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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.

Tesla and SpaceX will kick off the Terafab project with an advanced technology fab in Texas.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Unlike last year’s show, the 98th Academy Awards didn’t buck expectations with a moving musical performance to kick off the telecast, preempting the usual opening sketch and host’s monologue.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026

Angel City will kick off its fifth season Sunday at BMO Stadium against the Chicago Stars.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt have released a new track, Club Song, and will kick off off a string of live shows in June.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

“And now we have Ms. Arletta Paisley herself here to say a few words and kick off the big event.”

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

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.