How to Use leadoff in a Sentence

leadoff

1 of 2 noun
Definition of leadoffnext
Synonyms for leadoffnext
  • So, who'll be the next Tiger to click in the leadoff spot?
    — Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2024
  • The leadoff hitter went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
    — Mike Perrin | , al, 8 Apr. 2023
  • Singer worked around a leadoff walk in the fifth inning.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2024
  • Sanchez pushed the lead to 4-2 with a leadoff homer to right-center in the fifth. Arraez walked.
    — Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022
  • Miguel Rojas put the Marlins up 1-0 on a leadoff homer in the third.
    — Mark Didtler, ajc, 26 Sep. 2021
  • Mike Clevinger allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the first and then Hoskins’ first homer of the game that cut the lead to 4-2.
    — Dan Gelston, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Oct. 2022
  • The Marlins had seized a 1-0 lead when Jazz Chisholm Jr. struck a leadoff homer in the first, his 11th long ball of the year, to right field.
    — Miami Herald, 10 July 2024
  • Bader, acquired at the deadline from St. Louis, tied the score with a leadoff homer in the third.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 11 Oct. 2022
  • The Red Sox took the lead moments later on a leadoff home run and won 14-2.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2024
  • In the ninth, Martinez hit the leadoff hitter and then walked the next batter.
    — Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
  • Laureano stretched the lead to 4-0 with a leadoff homer off Andrew Haney in the fifth.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 15 Sep. 2023
  • Garcia then walked the leadoff hitter in the second and came out of the game with a sore right knee.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 17 Oct. 2021
  • Rays leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz hit a low line drive that snuck over the left field wall to give the Rays the lead right away.
    — Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 19 Apr. 2023
  • Smith drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, but it was wiped out by a Cody Bellinger double-play grounder.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2022
  • One of the symbols of this style is Kwan, the team’s leadoff hitter and Gold Glove left fielder.
    — Terry Pluto, cleveland, 17 Nov. 2022
  • Austin Hedges started a three-run rally in the fifth with a leadoff homer.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 22 June 2022
  • The Sox had a .295 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot last season.
    — Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Dec. 2022
  • Baseball purists have to love Kwan, the leadoff man and left fielder.
    — Terry Pluto, cleveland, 13 Aug. 2022
  • On Monday, the Rangers got a leadoff homer from Marcus Semien on the first pitch of the bottom of the first and then … nothing.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023
  • Jarred Kelenic crushed a leadoff homer against Martínez in the fourth inning.
    — Matt Kawahara, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Sep. 2022
  • Twins leadoff hitter Donovan Solano hit a two-out home run in the top of the third inning to cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-1.
    — Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 3 Sep. 2023
  • With his leadoff home run, Judge is on a historic pace.
    — Kristie Ackert, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2022
  • Yoshida projects as the leadoff hitter in the Red Sox lineup.
    — Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Dec. 2022
  • That was one set up by a leadoff walk to No. 9 hitter Ryan Bliss in the third inning.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 1 June 2024
  • Some of the 5-foot-8 Picklin’s best traits are ones that any team would want in its leadoff hitter.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2023
  • Betts now has 25 leadoff homers as a Dodger, four shy of the franchise record of 29 set by Davey Lopes.
    — Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2023
  • As a result, the leadoff batter was awarded a 1-0 count to start the inning.
    — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 25 Feb. 2023
  • In the top of the first, the Cubs’ three leadoff hitters reached on a double, walk and ground-ball single on the infield.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
  • Moving him up to the leadoff spot was one of the best decisions the Mets made all season.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Nov. 2024
  • His 17 total bases and 10 RBIs are the most ever for leadoff hitter in one game.
    — Jack Magruder, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
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lead off

2 of 2 verb
  • Winker tied it with a 397-foot bolt to right to lead off the fourth.
    — John Fay, The Enquirer, 29 Aug. 2020
  • Smith took an 0-2 pitch from Luis Gil deep to lead off the fifth.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024
  • The Dodgers are now up to bat for the first time with Ohtani leading off.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 26 Oct. 2024
  • Cedric Mullins lead off the bottom of the first with a double.
    — Nathan Ruiz, baltimoresun.com, 23 June 2021
  • The Huskies regained the lead on a Michael Brown home run to lead off the second.
    — James Crepea | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 9 May 2021
  • The Rangers didn’t have a hit until a Brock Holt single to lead off the top of the fourth.
    — Joseph Hoyt, Dallas News, 19 July 2021
  • DeRozan knows his role is to lead off the court as well as on it.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2022
  • Zac White and Robert Moore walked to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.
    — Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 13 Apr. 2021
  • The Dash took an early lead off a strike from Nichelle Prince.
    — Julia Poe, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Sep. 2020
  • In the top of the seventh, Josh Hughes led off with a single.
    — John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Since 1961, Haase is the third Tiger to lead off back-to-back innings with a home run.
    — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 2 June 2021
  • Willy Adames led off with a walk and Jesse Winker singled him to third.
    — Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 16 July 2023
  • Tatis homered again off Bauer to lead off the sixth and put San Diego ahead 3-2.
    — Steve Henson Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2021
  • Zeb Allen was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first but was picked off.
    — Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2022
  • Ally Walesky hit two homers to left, a two-run shot in the second and one to lead off the fifth.
    — Michael Osipoff, chicagotribune.com, 13 June 2021
  • Caleb Burger reached base on a walk to lead off the third inning.
    — Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, 23 June 2021
  • Betts was summoned to lead off in the eighth, but struck out looking.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2022
  • Their lone hit was a bunt single by Daulton Varsho to lead off the game.
    — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 6 June 2022
  • Randy Arozarena homered to lead off the fourth inning and cut the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1.
    — Lamond Pope, chicagotribune.com, 25 Oct. 2020
  • Cid hit the walk-off home run off Mariah Lopez (1-4) to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
    — James Crepea | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 20 Mar. 2021
  • Soler was made the lead off hitter, and Rosario took over in left field.
    — Ray Glier, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2021
  • Blake Tidwell walked Casey Opitz to lead off the eighth inning.
    — Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 16 May 2021
  • Daniel Vogelbach ended the streak with a four-pitch walk to lead off the fifth.
    — John Fay, The Enquirer, 24 Sep. 2020
  • Ryan gave up another run in the fifth and walked two batters to lead off the sixth.
    — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 13 July 2024
  • Kline began to tire and walked two of the first three batters to lead off the inning.
    — Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2023
  • Tucker Barnhart broke up the no-no with a clean single to lead off the sixth.
    — John Fay, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2020
  • Mack worked a full count before grounding to third to lead off.
    — Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 28 May 2021
  • Kyle Seager hit a solo home run to right to lead off the sixth, giving the Mariners a 3-2 lead.
    — Chron, 8 Sep. 2021
  • Henderson also holds the record for most home runs leading off a game.
    — Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
  • An errant snap on a punt gifted the struggling Saints, who have lost six consecutive games, a two-point lead off a safety in the first quarter.
    — Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leadoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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