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Synonyms

kick off

British  

verb

  1. to start play in a game of football by kicking the ball from the centre of the field

  2. informal to commence a discussion, job, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

    1. a place kick from the centre of the field in a game of football

    2. the time at which the first such kick is due to take place

      kickoff is at 2.30 p.m

  2. informal

    1. the beginning of something

    2. to begin with

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
kick off Idioms  

  1. 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]

  2. 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.

Fans are now looking ahead to the 2026 F1 race calendar which kicks off in Melbourne, Australia on 6 March - and many will be hoping for a repeat of drama like in 2021.

From BBC

The tour kicked off at Mama Roux's club in front of a few hundred fans who were attracted as much by his ebullient indie music as their curiosity in the Beckham clan.

From BBC

For example, he kicks off, “Before I start in, I want to try to communicate the level of awe with which I viewed Claude’s output.”

From MarketWatch

For example, he kicks off with, “Before I start in, I want to try to communicate the level of awe with which I viewed Claude’s output”.

From MarketWatch

Officials say the two leaders might formally kick off negotiations on a comprehensive economic agreement.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.