kickoff

or kick-off

[ kik-awf, -of ]

/ ˈkɪkˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

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See synonyms for kickoff on Thesaurus.com

noun

Football. a place kick or a drop kick from the 40-yard line of the team kicking at the beginning of the first and third periods or after the team kicking has scored a touchdown or field goal.

Soccer. a kick that puts a stationary ball into play from the center line of the field at the start of a quarter or after a goal has been scored.

the initial stage of something; start; beginning: the campaign kickoff.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of kickoff

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase kick off

Words nearby kickoff

kick boxing, kickdown, kicker, kick in, kick it, kickoff, kick on, kick oneself, kick out, kick over the traces, kick plate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use kickoff in a sentence

Rookie Rodrigo Blankenship, who kicks field goals and extra points for the Colts, also handled kickoffs on Sunday.
Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez says he’ll have surgery to remove cancerous tumor|Matt Bonesteel|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
It had a scheduled open date, then an unscheduled open date when Florida State canceled last week’s game a few hours before kickoff over covid concerns, which did not go over well with Swinney.
College football winners and losers: Pac-12 playoff hopes disappear with Oregon’s loss|Patrick Stevens|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
Sarah Fuller becomes the first woman to kick for a Power Five school with this kickoff.
Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller becomes first woman to play in a Power Five football game|Cindy Boren, Matt Bonesteel|November 28, 2020|Washington Post
The attention-starved Power Five conference is experimenting with early kickoffs this season to see if it can boost TV ratings and give Pac-12 teams a bigger share of the national spotlight.
Fox Sports college football pregame show hosts will miss Saturday’s broadcast|Matt Bonesteel|November 5, 2020|Washington Post

This week, we talk to Laura about the challenges of doing rigorous reporting on a topic that a lot of people don’t take seriously and share the kickoff episode of her otherworldly new series.
What We Really Know About Life in Outer Space|Outside Editors|September 17, 2020|Outside Online
Because the marketing of the screening included a rainbow flag and said it was to be the kickoff of “LGBT Awareness Month.”
Catholic University’s Harvey Milk Ban Reflects A Church In Transition|Jay Michaelson|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
May marks the true kickoff of primary season for the 2014 elections.
May Primaries Will Decide Election 2014|Ben Jacobs|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Joe Paterno, something of a god himself, saw none of it; he was minutes from the kickoff.
The Stacks: The True Greatness of Muhammad Ali|Peter Richmond|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tech giants including Mark Zuckerberg meet at the Mobile World Congress kickoff in Barcelona.
The Daily Beast Looks Ahead: February 24 - March 2|Brandy Zadrozny|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If there was any hope for an epic comeback, Percy Harvin quashed it by taking the second half kickoff to the house.
Super Blowout: Seahawks Buck Broncos to Take Home the Championship Title|Ben Teitelbaum|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for kickoff

kick off

verb (intr, adverb)

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

informal to commence a discussion, job, etc

noun kickoff

a place kick from the centre of the field in a game of football
the time at which the first such kick is due to take placekickoff is at 2.30 p.m

informal

the beginning of something
for a kickoff 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

Other Idioms and Phrases with kickoff

kick off

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]

See kick in, def. 2.