start off

phrasal verb

started off; starting off; starts off

: to start or cause (something) to start in a specified way

He started off by introducing himself.

She started off (her run) at a slow jog.

The performance started off badly.

—often + with

I started off my speech with a joke.

We started off the meal with shrimp cocktails.

The team started the season off with a 10-game winning streak.

: to have a specified quality, identity, job, etc., at the start

She started off as a sales assistant but is now the marketing director.

: to begin an important period in one's life or career

The house is perfect for a couple just starting off.

: to begin to move toward a particular place or in a particular direction

She ate breakfast before starting off for work.

: to cause (someone) to begin doing a particular activity or action

He started his daughter off on the piano.

The game-show host started her off with some easy questions.

Examples of start off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The two started off as onscreen love interests on 'The Office' and have been everyone's favorite will-they-or-won't-they couple ever since Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak have been friends for over 20 years! —

Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 25 June 2024 Tax season always seems to start off with some kind of quirky, what-if component. —

Susan Tompor, The Enquirer, 12 June 2024 The weekend started off with three-star defensive lineman Abe Tarawallie, of Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove, pledging to the U on Friday. —

Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 June 2024 These nymphs start off as eggs laid by adult flies from the former generation. —

Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 6 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for start off

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'start off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.