lead-off
adjective
leading off or beginning.
lead-off
American
[leed-awf, -of]
/ ˈlidˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
adjective
lead off
British
/ liːd /
verb
noun
-
an initial move or action
-
a person or thing that begins something
lead off
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of lead-off
First recorded in 1885–90; adj. use of verb phrase lead off
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.
See Examples For:
The four-year MLB veteran is up to 12 career lead-off homers and has three in 2026.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026
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
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
Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff, making his fifth start of the season, was replaced with one out and Seager on second after a lead-off double.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 19, 2023
As regards “points” it is well to lunge out, as one does when making a left-handed lead-off in boxing, so as to gain somewhat in the reach.
From Broad-Sword and Single-Stick With Chapters on Quarter-Staff, Bayonet, Cudgel, Shillalah, Walking-Stick, Umbrella and Other Weapons of Self-Defence by Rowland George Allanson Allanson-Winn, Baron Headley
Dodgers starting pitcher Eric Lauer, who had already given up a two-run home run to Alec Bohm in the first inning, surrendered a solo shot to Bryan De La Cruz to lead off the fifth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
"We've always stressed to any dog owners that dogs need to be kept on the lead, off the furniture. People are very aware of other people who don't like to be around dogs."
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
He hit a batter and gave up a double to lead off the ninth, and the Dodgers rushed in Glasnow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2025
That early salvo -- the first time in World Series history a team has hit back-to-back lead off home runs -- handed the Blue Jays a lead they would never relinquish.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2025
Perhaps a conference, because two sets of footprints seemed to lead off while one remained pacing the cliff edge.
From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman
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.
