1
as in begins
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dies
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kicks off
Kansas City’s first World Cup match kicks off June 16, 2026, and the city will host six games in total.
—
Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Five soccer matches are expected to be played in the capital city when the global tournament kicks off in July.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
The scene kicks off the start of their business relationship.
—Molly Lambert, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
The second and final weekend kicks off on Friday, April 17.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Mexico kicks off the whole World Cup tournament on June 11.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The trailer launch kicks off an exciting stretch for Rick and Morty fans.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
The South American powerhouse dominated the stat sheet as both teams continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in June.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The tournament kicks off from TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course on Thursday morning.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Five soccer matches are expected to be played in the capital city when the global tournament kicks off in July.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
The scene kicks off the start of their business relationship.
—Molly Lambert, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
The second and final weekend kicks off on Friday, April 17.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Mexico kicks off the whole World Cup tournament on June 11.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The trailer launch kicks off an exciting stretch for Rick and Morty fans.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
The South American powerhouse dominated the stat sheet as both teams continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in June.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The tournament kicks off from TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course on Thursday morning.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks off
Verb
-
By Thursday through Saturday, highs are expected to reach near 90 degrees, marking a return to more summer-like conditions just as May begins.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Unfortunately for her, Steve’s more than ready for the attack, and what begins as a perfect friendship, devolves into an all-out feud.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No spoilers, but the deal with the devil that Joan made decades earlier to sacrifice her own ambitions of becoming a writer in exchange for becoming a wife finally dies.—
Laura Zigman,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
If the whale dies at sea, their work may seem pointless in retrospect.—
Jessica Camille Aguirre,
New Yorker,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Jupiter Jupiter, as darkness falls, will be roughly one-third up from the western horizon to the point directly overhead.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
The shoulder season falls between peak travel windows, after ski season winds down and before summer crowds arrive.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Falling back to the pack and seven points shy of San Jose, which won 4-1 at BMO Stadium on Sunday, LAFC has seen its recent MLS stumbles coincide with advancing to a two-leg CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal, which commences Wednesday at BMO Stadium and ends May 6 in Toluca, Mexico.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The new pact commences on January 2027 after Butterworth’s current deal with Paramount wraps up at the end of the year.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If space starts to operate more like aviation, the pace of discovery could change in ways that ripple far beyond the aerospace industry.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The chatbot starts with questions about a final group project and drills into details based on each student’s answers.—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most Social Security payments fund retirement and related benefits, providing monthly income to eligible workers and certain family members, as well as survivor benefits for families after a worker passes away.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
After Nora and Agnes’ mother passes away, Gustav returns to Oslo (and the gorgeous family house that has played home to some of their biggest tragedies) and tries to reestablish himself in his family’s lives.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Every soldier Harry would have saved on a transport during the war perishes too.—
Margaret Heidenry,
Vanity Fair,
24 Dec. 2025
-
Factory ships deplete fisheries in a matter of years and an inordinate amount of sea life also perishes in their nets.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
They are often lured in by introductory rates only to be surprised when the long-term pricing kicks in later and doesn’t fit their budget.—
Wyles Daniel,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Head coach Kris Knoblauch, who would receive a three-year extension in October (the contract kicks in this fall), built his coaching staff around incumbent Mark Stuart and new hires Paul McFarland, Peter Aubry and Conor Allen.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicks%20off. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
