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
But the quarter wasn’t without its hiccups Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America reported their first-quarter earnings to start off a new week.
—
Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
To wash off tubing mascara, start off by using warm water or micellar water.
—Bianca Lambert, Glamour, 16 Apr. 2024
What started off as an early afternoon set from YG Marley on the Coachella Main Stage quickly turned into an all-star performance from a few hip-hop heavy hitters.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Saudi Arabia, which joined Jordan last night in helping to intercept Iranian missiles, has started off well by calling for immediate de-escalation.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2024
What started off as an adventure in paradise for Heslop has now become a three-year-long agonizing mystery for her friends and family.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
This smoothie is the perfect meal to start off your day.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The Kings started off slow, making just 5 of 21 shots in the first quarter.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
How about a refreshing Starry to start off your meal?
—Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
To wash off tubing mascara, start off by using warm water or micellar water.
—Bianca Lambert, Glamour, 16 Apr. 2024
What started off as an early afternoon set from YG Marley on the Coachella Main Stage quickly turned into an all-star performance from a few hip-hop heavy hitters.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Saudi Arabia, which joined Jordan last night in helping to intercept Iranian missiles, has started off well by calling for immediate de-escalation.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2024
What started off as an adventure in paradise for Heslop has now become a three-year-long agonizing mystery for her friends and family.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
This smoothie is the perfect meal to start off your day.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The Kings started off slow, making just 5 of 21 shots in the first quarter.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
How about a refreshing Starry to start off your meal?
—Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
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 15 May. 2024.
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