kickoff

or kick-off

[ kik-awf, -of ]

/ ˈkɪkˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR kickoff ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Football. a place kick or a drop kick from the 40-yard line of the team kicking at the beginning of the first and third periods or after the team kicking has scored a touchdown or field goal.

Soccer. a kick that puts a stationary ball into play from the center line of the field at the start of a quarter or after a goal has been scored.

the initial stage of something; start; beginning: the campaign kickoff.

Origin of kickoff

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase kick off

Words nearby kickoff

kick boxing, kickdown, kicker, kick in, kick it, kickoff, kick on, kick oneself, kick out, kick over the traces, kick plate

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for kickoff

This week, we talk to Laura about the challenges of doing rigorous reporting on a topic that a lot of people don’t take seriously and share the kickoff episode of her otherworldly new series.
What We Really Know About Life in Outer Space|Outside Editors|September 17, 2020|Outside Online
Because the marketing of the screening included a rainbow flag and said it was to be the kickoff of “LGBT Awareness Month.”
Catholic University’s Harvey Milk Ban Reflects A Church In Transition|Jay Michaelson|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Joe Paterno, something of a god himself, saw none of it; he was minutes from the kickoff.
The Stacks: The True Greatness of Muhammad Ali|Peter Richmond|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tech giants including Mark Zuckerberg meet at the Mobile World Congress kickoff in Barcelona.
The Daily Beast Looks Ahead: February 24 - March 2|Brandy Zadrozny|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Which sideline reporter will appear on television first after kickoff: Erin Andrews or Pam Oliver?
The Weird Wild World of Super Bowl Betting|Joe Concha|January 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In college, a 57-yard field goal is basically giving the other side a chance to return a kickoff.
Alabama Coach Nick Saban’s Folly: Great Coaches Protect Their Players|Stuart Stevens|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for kickoff

kick off

verb (intr, adverb)

to start play in a game of football by kicking the ball from the centre of the field

informal to commence a discussion, job, etc

noun kickoff

a place kick from the centre of the field in a game of football
the time at which the first such kick is due to take placekickoff is at 2.30 p.m

informal

the beginning of something
for a kickoff to begin with

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with kickoff