lead-off

American  

[leed-awf, -of] / ˈlidˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

adjective

1. leading off or beginning.

   the lead-off item on the agenda.

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lead off British  

/ liːd /

verb

1. to initiate the action of (something); begin

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noun

1. an initial move or action

2. a person or thing that begins something

lead off Idioms  

1. Begin, start, go first. For example, We have a panel of three speakers, so will you lead off? [c. 1800]

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Etymology

Origin of lead-off

First recorded in 1885–90; adj. use of verb phrase lead off

Example Sentences

It was the lead-off single to “Parade,” the full soundtrack album to Prince’s 1986 vanity lap “Under the Cherry Moon,” in which he directed and starred, and premiered months after “Kiss” became a hit.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

Pinch hitter Taylor Stpehens worked a lead-off walk and came around to score on Kaitlyn Terry’s one-out triple.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2025

The 19-year-old Pan swam the fastest 100 in history with a time of 46.80 seconds in the lead-off leg of China’s gold medal-winning 4×100 relay team.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2024

That has worked so far, even if it meant moving a successful lead-off hitter in Thomas to second in the lineup.

From Washington Times • Jul. 9, 2023

Every one knew it was borrowed, for he had asked about twenty of his friends during the last week whether that wouldn’t be “a showy lead-off for his cricket feast jaw?”

From The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's A School Story by Reed, Talbot Baines

Related Words

• announce
• offer
• open
• propose
• recommend
• submit
• suggest