a demonstration of good wishes for a person setting out on a trip, career, or other venture.
They gave him a rousing send-off at the pier.
a start given to a person or thing.
1855–60, noun use of verb phrase send off
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Videos circulated by local and pro-Cuba outlets showed a tearful send-off from residents who gave the departing Cuban staff an ovation as they left the ophthalmology clinics they had been operating.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
On an unpredictable surface, with such a huge target, there will not be one last chase as a Stokes send-off.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
Tens of thousands of fans gathered at a public square in Oslo to give the squad a roaring send-off.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
But, tasked by the Norwegian football association with taking the squad's send-off photo, acclaimed British photographer David Yarrow preferred a wider angle to capture the contribution of all 26 players.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
And for those of you who requested a printing of the special send-off cheer, it is as follows.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
If this was it for the little man, what a send off.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
When police came to arrest her, Klette managed to send off a text message to Garweg, allowing him to escape from his Berlin hideout.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
The primary goal is to send off your return and get your refund, if one is due, and never hear from the IRS again during the year.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 2026
Now, anytime he’s available, he makes sure to be there and send off his favorite team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026
“Hey. I don’t know the guy. I want to feel him out. I wouldn’t loan my car to a stranger. You think I’d send off my son? Out on the ocean, no less?”
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
He also struggled in The Hundred, where it was evident he was getting big send-offs from the opposition and receiving banter about being England's 'Golden Boy', which was unkind.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2025
There was lots of humor and lighthearted banter as well as some sentimental, respectful send-offs to the old guard as the new generation took over.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2024
But in Chicago, Lorie McCann said her union chapter planned fewer retirement send-offs than usual.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 1, 2023
All three series delivered fine send-offs that left their devoted fanbases smiling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2022
The girls took her coming departure with many objections, but they proceeded to give her various send-offs.
From Kit of Greenacre Farm by Forrester, Izola L. (Izola Louise)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
