leadoff

1 of 2

noun

lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf How to pronounce leadoff (audio)
Synonyms of leadoffnext
1
: a beginning or leading action
2
: one that leads off
leadoff adjective

lead off

2 of 2

verb

ˈlēd- How to pronounce lead off (audio)
led off; leading off; leads off

intransitive verb

: begin
also : to come on or perform first

transitive verb

1
: to make a start on : open
2
: to bat first for a baseball team in (an inning)

Synonyms

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of leadoff in a Sentence

Verb plans to lead off the news conference with a prepared statement
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Kiké Hernández provided the initial spark, going the other way on a 97-mph sinker for a leadoff single. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 Buehler has retired six straight after a leadoff walk. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
For the seventh straight year, ‘Future Stars Friday’ leads off the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and 14 races over two days. —Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 The Dodgers are now up to bat for the first time with Ohtani leading off. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for leadoff 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of leadoff was in 1806

Dictionary Entries Near leadoff

lead ocher

leadoff

lead off

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Leadoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadoff. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

leadoff

noun
lead·​off ˈlēd-ˌȯf How to pronounce leadoff (audio)
1
: a beginning action
2
: one that begins something
leadoff adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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