start off
phrasal verb
started off; starting off; starts off
1
: to start or cause (something) to start in a specified way
He started off by introducing himself.
She started off (her run) at a slow jog.
The performance started off badly.
—often + withI started off my speech with a joke.
We started off the meal with shrimp cocktails.
The team started the season off with a 10-game winning streak.
2
: to have a specified quality, identity, job, etc., at the start
She started off as a sales assistant but is now the marketing director.
3
: to begin an important period in one's life or career
The house is perfect for a couple just starting off.
4
: to begin to move toward a particular place or in a particular direction
She ate breakfast before starting off for work.
5
: to cause (someone) to begin doing a particular activity or action
He started his daughter off on the piano.
The game-show host started her off with some easy questions.
Examples of start off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Looking back over the last decade-plus, there have been a significant number of players who started off very slow in the Hall voting, but eventually got in.
—
Tony Blengino, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Netflix is starting off the new year with another subscription price hike.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
His team started off assuming tax cuts would focus just on individuals.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
The new poll found other Republicans would start off the campaign in a weaker position than Kemp.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
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Tony Blengino, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Netflix is starting off the new year with another subscription price hike.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
His team started off assuming tax cuts would focus just on individuals.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
The new poll found other Republicans would start off the campaign in a weaker position than Kemp.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for start off
Dictionary Entries Near start off
Cite this Entry
“Start off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/start%20off. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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