as in starts
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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Recent Examples of kickoffs
Both Riley and Bates returned kickoffs in 2024, with Riley scoring a 96-yard touchdown against Utah State.
—
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Still, the overall injury rate is lower than previous kickoffs, when the coverage team had a running start compared to the standing start of the new rule.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Concussions There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns.
—Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For a prospect with such gaudy rushing statistics, Walton appears capable of doing a little bit of everything, including returning kickoffs.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
One particularly promising application involves tracking when the ball crosses the sideline during kickoffs and punts.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Souza shared data suggesting the previous format for kickoffs carried a concussion rate four times that of a regular pass or run play from scrimmage.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Feb. 2026
There were also exhibits that had guests run game plays, do kickoffs at football field lengths and test their throwing skills.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated February 5, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Though a few other teams had their punter handle kickoffs — a tactic that didn’t work out very well for the Rams — the 31-year-old Myers hit all scoring kicks and kickoffs without wearing down across 19 games.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Still, the overall injury rate is lower than previous kickoffs, when the coverage team had a running start compared to the standing start of the new rule.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Concussions There were 35 concussions on kickoffs in 2025 compared to eight in 2024 mainly because moving the touchback to the 35-yard line resulted in 1,157 more returns.
—Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For a prospect with such gaudy rushing statistics, Walton appears capable of doing a little bit of everything, including returning kickoffs.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
One particularly promising application involves tracking when the ball crosses the sideline during kickoffs and punts.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Souza shared data suggesting the previous format for kickoffs carried a concussion rate four times that of a regular pass or run play from scrimmage.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Feb. 2026
There were also exhibits that had guests run game plays, do kickoffs at football field lengths and test their throwing skills.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated February 5, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Though a few other teams had their punter handle kickoffs — a tactic that didn’t work out very well for the Rams — the 31-year-old Myers hit all scoring kicks and kickoffs without wearing down across 19 games.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kickoffs
Noun
-
Roony has spent the season in Yamal’s shadow, making just eight starts.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Cole, meanwhile, is two starts into his assignment following Tommy John surgery.—
Gary Phillips,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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By moving some commencements away from increasingly costly private sites, the financially ailing school district could have saved about half a million dollars a year.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is a year of new beginnings, adventures and major changes.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Gerrymandering as a practice goes back to the beginnings of the republic—the term comes from maps drawn under Governor Elbridge Gerry in 1812.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As part of that, the cadence of launches on Falcon 9 and other rockets to the Moon is likely to increase by something like a factor of 10 due to the need to land rovers, supplies, habitats, communications equipment, and much more to support human activities.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
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Falcon Heavy’s presence on the Space Coast has been sporadic, with long droughts between launches before.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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As a ballplayer, Kent was as irascible as Bonds; the two alphas reportedly brawled behind clubhouse doors, and famously clashed in the dugout during a 2002 game, when Bonds lunged for Kent’s throat and pushed him against the wall.—
Jeremy Collins,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The program has also collected 100 soil samples to analyze and establish baselines for measuring future progress.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
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For every scene, participants picked one robot from a lineup of six that differed only in color—there were four skin tones ranging from light to dark, plus a silver and a teal option meant as nonracial baselines.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kickoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kickoffs. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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