1
as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to die
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
a political cycle in which an election marks not only the end of one campaign but also the kickoff for the next one
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick off
Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 9 Feb. 2025
Where to Watch Super Bowl LIX Super Bowl LIX kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:30/5:30c on Fox.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 9 Feb. 2025
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2025
Get the Recipe 16 of 20 Puppy Chow Snack Mix
This sweet snack is a breeze to whip up just in time for kickoff.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for kick off 
Verb
When is the Puppy Bowl 2025? Puppy Bowl XXI kicks off Sunday, February 9, starting with the brand-new Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 9 Feb. 2025
Where to Watch Super Bowl LIX Super Bowl LIX kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:30/5:30c on Fox.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 9 Feb. 2025
Noun
Jacoby Jones returns the second-half kickoff 108 yards, a Super Bowl record, to give Baltimore a 28-6 lead.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2025
Get the Recipe 16 of 20 Puppy Chow Snack Mix
This sweet snack is a breeze to whip up just in time for kickoff.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for kick off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick off
Verb
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Backup windows are available on Sunday beginning at 12:55 p.m. Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron forecasts a better than 95% chance for good conditions at the launch site Saturday.—
Richard Tribou,
Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2025
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Negotiations for a new contract had begun in July, followed by mediation sessions in September, but no agreement was reached.—
Julia Fomby,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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French died Friday in Los Angeles of complications from Alzheimer’s, his wife of 34 years, longtime Days of Our Lives actress Eileen Barnett, told The Hollywood Reporter.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Feb. 2025
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But Butler’s debut signified the Warriors’ most hopeful moment in months, an introduction of a superstar who seems to blend well into their system, helps solve their biggest weaknesses and accentuates Curry, who has been dying for a co-star for a few seasons.—
Anthony Slater,
The Athletic,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Jason Lipshutz: Unlike the star-heavy start of 2024, the beginning of 2025 has not been jammed with big new album releases — just Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, really — and Hurry Up Tomorrow took advantage of that relative silence.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
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At the beginning of the Feb. 10 episode, host Jesse Palmer announced that there’d be one group date and two one-on-one dates.—
Dana Rose Falcone,
People.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Senate Budget Committee plans to start working on Graham's proposal next Wednesday.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
10 Feb. 2025
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TikTok does not operate a U.S. ad library that would include information about when the ads started, or how much YouTube has paid for them.—
Alexandra S. Levine Bloomberg News (WPNS),
arkansasonline.com,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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More light rain fell periodically through the Bay Area on Monday, continuing a pattern that began Friday and ended a nearly month-long stretch without precipitation.—
Rick Hurd,
The Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2025
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The project fell further behind, and soon the relationship between Pizzarotti and Fortis soured, too.—
Eric Lach,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Morehouse College President David Thomas speaks during Morehouse College’s graduation ceremony, before US President Joe Biden delivers his commencement address, in Atlanta, Georgia on May 19, 2024.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2025
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Since the commencement of his second term, hundreds of undocumented immigrants have been arrested.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Their An Evening with Jagged Edge: 25 Years of ‘J.E. Heartbreak’ anniversary tour, produced by Live Nation Urban, commences on Wednesday, Mar. 26 in Dallas.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
4 Feb. 2025
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Davis’ final touchdown at Arrowhead Stadium was supposed to be the dagger in the Chiefs’ hopeful return to the AFC Championship, as there were just 13 seconds left on the fourth-quarter clock when the Bills’ kickoff commenced.—
Scott Thompson,
Fox News,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Beaver’s Pond Press experienced this firsthand during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2025
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There is a very strict window of time in which this medicine can be given — three hours from the onset of symptoms, although there can be exceptions under specific circumstances.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Kick off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20off. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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