1
as in begins
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
I'll kick off the discussion on ethics with this question
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dies
slang
to stop living
surprisingly, the recluse was worth a cool million when he kicked off
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of kicks off
Besides all of this, the January crunch stems from the Wayback machine, to the coaches seeking a way to corral their entire roster on campus long before the first game kicks off.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
The festival kicks off weeks earlier with the crowning of Miss Circus City, an education scholarship program that's been running for over 60 years.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
The country star’s With Heaven On Tour run kicks off March 7 and features support from Kings of Leon, Alabama Shakes, Ben Howard, MJ Lenderman, Dijon, and more.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Production kicks off later this month.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Affordable Care Act open enrollment kicks off Saturday, and this year’s enrollment period is expected to see the largest increase in costs since the law went into effect more than a decade ago.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Performers Ben Schwartz, David Henrie, Ego Nwodim and Devery Jacobs help round out the guest list for the weekly pod, whose 10-episode season kicks off Nov 10.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
The show that kicks off a centennial celebration of the artist’s life.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
The news could not have come at a better time, as Inter Miami kicks off the MLS Playoffs on Friday at home against Nashville SC in the first game of a best-of-3 series.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks off
Verb
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The mission now begins final checkout activities.—
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As the pooch chews on the glove, the battery is suddenly damaged and begins to smoke.—
Verb
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And if the giver dies during the five-year period, some of the gift will be added back into their estate.—
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First, Monty Miller (a suave, anguished Jon Hamm), Tommy’s lifelong friend and billionaire founder of M-Tex, dies suddenly, but not before naming the fixer as the new company president.—
Verb
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Worse, the tariff burden is a regressive tax that falls hardest on lower-income households and small businesses with less bargaining power.—
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There’s nothing as cozy as snuggling up in front of the fire while snow falls peacefully outside.—
Verb
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The first leg of the annual championship commences this Saturday, January 3, and wraps up on Saturday, January 17.—
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Hickey’s expectations come as Wall Street readies for the new trading year, which commences with Friday’s opening bell.—
Verb
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Planning your Sunday Sunday starts drier, but another cold front moves through late in the day.—
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The waterfront views steal the show, especially as boats drift by and the light starts to change.—
Verb
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After Nora and Agnes’ mother passes away, Gustav returns to Oslo (and the gorgeous family house that has played home to some of their biggest tragedies) and tries to reestablish himself in his family’s lives.—
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That's very different from a co-signer, who is equally responsible for any balance, even after the primary cardholder passes away.—
Verb
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Every soldier Harry would have saved on a transport during the war perishes too.—
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Factory ships deplete fisheries in a matter of years and an inordinate amount of sea life also perishes in their nets.—
Verb
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For many, this lower payment is seen as a bridge until rates drop, jobs relocate, or life changes; borrowers are actively planning to refinance, move, or pay off loans before the adjustable period kicks in.—
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Your skin prickles, adrenaline spikes — and that primal fight-or-flight instinct kicks in.—
Cite this Entry
“Kicks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicks%20off. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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