start off

phrasal verb

started off; starting off; starts off

1

: to start or cause (something) to start in a specified way

He started off by introducing himself.

She started off (her run) at a slow jog.

The performance started off badly.

—often + with

I started off my speech with a joke.

We started off the meal with shrimp cocktails.

The team started the season off with a 10-game winning streak.

2

: to have a specified quality, identity, job, etc., at the start

She started off as a sales assistant but is now the marketing director.

3

: to begin an important period in one's life or career

The house is perfect for a couple just starting off.

4

: to begin to move toward a particular place or in a particular direction

She ate breakfast before starting off for work.

5

: to cause (someone) to begin doing a particular activity or action

He started his daughter off on the piano.

The game-show host started her off with some easy questions.

Examples of start off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The energy starts off calm and slow, with most sitting to enjoy the moment, just as Jennie was earlier in the day. —Irene Kim, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2025

Jiwa started off sharing her outfits on TikTok in 2020 before she was invited to her first major premiere in 2022. —Athena Sobhan, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

In terms of other comps, Dumbo was a major disappointment in starting off with $46 million, while Kung Fu Panda 4 strutted to $58 million. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025

Somehow, this show that started off promising fulfilled all of its potential, getting more ambitious and brilliant with each season. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for start off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff