LEADING OFF Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

leading off

verb

present participle of lead off

as in beginning

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

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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 leading off Tanner Scott allowed a two-strike homer to Garrett Mitchell leading off the sixth as Milwaukee went ahead 5-4. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Steven Kwan had singled leading off the fourth ahead of Ramírez’s sixth postseason homer, which went just over the wall near the right-field line. — Joe Reedy, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 Jake Bauers singled leading off the sixth and went to third on Cooper Pratt’s ground-rule double before scoring on Frelick’s sacrifice fly. — Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 After Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo threw a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 first inning, Dubón started a rally by leading off the second inning with a double into the corner in left field. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Tommy White homered for the A's leading off the third, a 347-footer to the left-field corner. — CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading off

Verb

With Saleh beginning his Tennessee tenure at 0-5, his head coaching record in the NFL sits at 20-41 overall after a multi-season stint with the New York Jets.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
County documents show plans for Station 34 were outlined alongside other fire station projects beginning in 2016.

— Monique John, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of beginning

Verb

Moody's, citing PitchBook data, said private equity distributions dropped from more than 30% of starting net asset value in 2022 to about 12% today.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Plasma will fully adopt the Wayland system and put support for starting new X11 sessions in Plasma to bed.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of starting

Verb

The Commanders allowed the clock to run out in overtime after getting the ball into field goal range inside the New York 30 without even getting off a kick.

— CBS News, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Not everybody getting off the ride, stumbling to see their picture on the wall, agrees that the thrills were worth the chills.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of getting off

Verb

Velly Pizza is also opening a second location in the Natomas area.

— Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Among the recommendations is a change that would change the village’s single-family residential districts to neighborhood residential districts, potentially opening them up to multi-unit housing.

— Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of opening

Browse Nearby Words

leading men

leading off

leading on

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Style

“Leading off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20off. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of leading off

verb

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