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
The preliminary count, which started off very slowly, put Sheinbaum 27 points ahead of Gálvez with 42% of polling place tallies counted shortly after her victory speech.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 June 2024
Longstaff brings 14 years of experience to the table for the Hornets, becoming entrenched in the business after starting off at the high school level before elevating to the NBA.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2024
Saturday’s Game 2 started off similarly, with Toledo scoring the opening goal, but that was all the offense the Walleye would muster.
—Zach Welch, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2024
Some children start off in private activities and end up joining other kids in watersports after feeling more comfortable, Effs said.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for start off 
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 June 2024
Longstaff brings 14 years of experience to the table for the Hornets, becoming entrenched in the business after starting off at the high school level before elevating to the NBA.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2024
Saturday’s Game 2 started off similarly, with Toledo scoring the opening goal, but that was all the offense the Walleye would muster.
—Zach Welch, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2024
Some children start off in private activities and end up joining other kids in watersports after feeling more comfortable, Effs said.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for start off
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'start off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 10 Jun. 2024.
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