leadoff

1 of 2

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf 

1

: a beginning or leading action

2

: one that leads off

leadoff adjective

lead off

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- 

led off; leading off; leads off

intransitive verb

: begin

also : to come on or perform first

transitive verb

1

: to make a start on : open

2

: to bat first for a baseball team in (an inning)

Synonyms

Verb

• begin
• commence
• embark (on or upon)
• enter (into or upon)
• fall (to)
• get off
• kick off
• launch
• open
• start
• strike (into)

Examples of leadoff in a Sentence

Verb

plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As a leadoff hitter, those numbers are .313 and .345. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2025

Might a combination of Soto, Vientos, and Alonso be a better trio to support the superb ability of leadoff hitter, shortstop Francisco Lindor? —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Verb

Tamira Chapman, the CEO of Storehouse In A Box, leads off the 2025 ForbesBLK newsletter CEO Series with a Q&A discussing a new endeavor with Penguin Random House to create Storehouse Voices. —Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Shortly past the trailhead, a small trail leads off to the right. —Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

leadoff

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf 

1

: a beginning action

2

: one that begins something

leadoff adjective