kick off
Britishverb
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to start play in a game of football by kicking the ball from the centre of the field
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informal to commence a discussion, job, etc
noun
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a place kick from the centre of the field in a game of football
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the time at which the first such kick is due to take place
kickoff is at 2.30 p.m
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informal
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the beginning of something
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to begin with
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Start, begin, as in They kicked off the celebration with a parade . This term alludes to starting play by kicking the ball in soccer, football, and similar sports. [Mid-1800s]
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See kick in , def. 2.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He recommends writing down a few sentences laying out how you plan to kick off the conversation, and finding a friend or family member to practice on.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
The arm-wrestling will kick off in earnest at a Brussels summit in October, with a likely second meeting in November, before a grand finale in December when leaders will look to seal the deal.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
LeMaire chose “City Lights” to kick off the series.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
The 64-year-old host of the reality TV show, which will kick off its 51st season in September, isn’t retiring anytime soon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
And when I finally kick off my sandals and dip my toes into the cool tub, I have to admit it feels amazing.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
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.
