# kickoff

/ˈkɪˌkɔf/ (US) · /kˈɪkɒf/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kickoff
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the start of a sports game, especially football, or the beginning of a new project or event. You use it to talk about the exact moment something gets moving.

For teachers: the start of a match in certain sports, or the initial stage of a project or activity. Often used in business contexts to describe the first formal meeting of a team.

## Examples

- The kickoff for the championship game is at 8:00 PM.
- We are holding a kickoff meeting on Monday to introduce the new team members and set our goals for the quarter.
- While the technical kickoff occurred weeks ago, the public launch remains the true test of whether the marketing strategy will resonate with the target audience.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The project will kickoff tomorrow." but "The project will kick off tomorrow." — The single word 'kickoff' is a noun; the action requires the two-word phrasal verb 'kick off'.

## Usage notes

- Often functions as a modifier in compound nouns like 'kickoff meeting' or 'kickoff event'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.