LEAD OFF Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

leadoff 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of leadoff

as in first

coming before all others in time or order the leadoff batter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lead off

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd-

as in to begin

to take the first step in (a process or course of action) plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of leadoff

Adjective

Those four all ranked among the top 40 in baseball in non-leadoff plate appearances with the bases empty last season. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026

Verb

Chaparro led off the third and fifth innings with home runs against Mets starter Sean Manaea (6-8). — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 Andres Chaparro singled to lead off and was moved over on a wild pitch from Pintaro. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leadoff

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leadoff

Adjective

Now Ricketts is running for his first full six-year term against independent Dan Osborn -- a race that initially was not expected to be competitive but is now being watched by the national parties.

— NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
One of the first of those is when their AI program teaches itself to beat the machine in a notoriously difficult video game.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of first

Verb

Once the playoffs began, New York has looked like a different team, and twice blew out top-seed Minnesota to advance.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
The White House originally said checks would begin in October, but the administration official told CNBC the first batch went out this Wednesday.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of begin

Adjective

However, Efthymiou has been unable to get GBP100,000 (about $130,000) to perform the initial mouse-model study.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
In the initial screening, AccuPoint Solutions uses a variety of primary data points as a minimum baseline, maximum ceiling or within a range to eliminate those firms that do not meet CNBC's requirements.

— Kelli Grant, CFP®,Riley de León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of initial

Verb

It has been known since the 1970s for yielding Roman artifacts, but an organized investigation did not commence until 2017, when geophysical surveys exposed a first-century fortification there.

— Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
The mountain, known to the Indigenous inhabitants of the region as the Six Grandfathers, was considered sacred, and construction commenced over the vehement objections of Native Americans.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of commence

Adjective

The Chaidemenos family was among the first to introduce tourism to the sleepy fishing village of Oia with their 1983 opening of the 18-suite Canaves Oia Boutique Hotel, their inaugural property.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
After two decades helping build AirAsia and its parent Capital A, she was appointed in September as the inaugural chair of AI Malaysia, the country’s lead AI agency, charged with coordinating the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030.

— Ashleigh Nghiem, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of inaugural

Verb

Inspections started June 24 — the day after the late-June discovery — on the building’s third floor.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
States have already started slashing caregivers’ pay and other critical disability services in anticipation of Medicaid cuts that will roll out next year.

— STAT, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of start

Adjective

The first points at the new Ryan Field went to — fittingly enough — the Wildcats when Jackson Kleather booted a 50-yarder between the uprights to cap off Northwestern's maiden drive in their new home.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
The maiden flight was conducted by Captain and Test Pilot Bernardo Saez-Benito and First Officer and Experimental Test Pilot Sylvain Guiraud.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of maiden

Verb

Feeling like finding this 950-square-foot apartment was kismet, Miranda-Martin signed the lease and set about creating a sophisticated and color-saturated sanctuary.

— Marissa Gluck, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
As the team set about their usual high-performance recovery routines, blending active recovery, massages and refueling, a group of USMNT players partook in a different form of relaxation altogether.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Definition of set about

Browse Nearby Words

leadmen

leadoff

lead off

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“Leadoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leadoff. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of leadoff

adjective

verb

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