1
: a kick that puts the ball into play in a football or soccer game
the opening kickoff
2
: the start of something : commencement
the campaign kickoff
kicked off; kicking off; kicks off
1
: to start or resume play in football by a placekick
2
a
: to initiate proceedings
b
: to start out : begin
the movie kicks off with a bank robbery
3
slang
: die
: to mark the beginning of
kick off the campaign
Examples of kickoff in a Sentence
Noun
At his campaign kickoff, the senator gave a passionate speech about combating poverty.
His speech marked the kickoff of his campaign.
Verb
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question.
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Recent Examples on the Web
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
For the rest of us, the construction kickoff means delay upon delay as streets, avenues and roads are awash with heavy equipment and construction workers laboring with jackhammers, picks and shovels.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Rack Room Shoes president and CEO Mark Lardie is kicking off May with a retirement announcement.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
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Noun
On the first play of the second half, Henderson took a kickoff to the house.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
For the rest of us, the construction kickoff means delay upon delay as streets, avenues and roads are awash with heavy equipment and construction workers laboring with jackhammers, picks and shovels.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
According to a release from the event, the two stars showed up separately to help kick off the festivities.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Rack Room Shoes president and CEO Mark Lardie is kicking off May with a retirement announcement.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
Cite this Entry
“Kickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickoff. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kickoff
1 of 2 noun
kick·off
ˈkik-ˌȯf 
: a kick that puts the ball into play (as in soccer or football)
kick off
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)kik-ˈȯf
1
: to make a kickoff
2
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