1
: a kick that puts the ball into play in a football or soccer game
the opening kickoff
2
: the start of something : commencement
the campaign kickoff
kicked off; kicking off; kicks off
1
: to start or resume play in football by a placekick
2
a
: to initiate proceedings
b
: to start out : begin
the movie kicks off with a bank robbery
3
slang
: die
: to mark the beginning of
kick off the campaign
Examples of kickoff in a Sentence
Noun
At his campaign kickoff, the senator gave a passionate speech about combating poverty.
His speech marked the kickoff of his campaign.
Verb
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question.
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
Recent Examples on the Web
Kerry Brown, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Championship banners will be raised before kickoff, but once the ball starts rolling, this team will focus entirely on winning again in 2025.
—Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
For the North America dates, the presale kicks off on Wednesday, March 26 with general sale starting on Friday, March 28.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Stakeholder engagement often naturally wanes after kickoff.
—Kerry Brown, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Championship banners will be raised before kickoff, but once the ball starts rolling, this team will focus entirely on winning again in 2025.
—Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
The men’s March Madness tournament kicks off with the First Four on March 18 and wraps up with the championship on April 7.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
For the North America dates, the presale kicks off on Wednesday, March 26 with general sale starting on Friday, March 28.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kickoff
Articles Related to kickoff
Cite this Entry
“Kickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickoff. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kickoff
1 of 2 noun
kick·off
ˈkik-ˌȯf 
: a kick that puts the ball into play (as in soccer or football)
kick off
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)kik-ˈȯf
1
: to make a kickoff
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share