Standard Lemma guide

kick-off

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The opening kick of each half of a game of football.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: American-football, ball-games, football, games, hobbies, lifestyle, soccer, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The opening sequence of any event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The opening sequence of notes in a song, usually played by the song's main instrument, to indicate the beginning of the song.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Deverbal from kick off.

Across languages

Translations

40 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: اَلْبِدَايَة (al-bidāya) — opening kick in football
  • Catalan: servei inicial — opening kick in football
  • Catalan: servei de centre — opening kick in football
  • Chinese Mandarin: 開球 /开球 (kāiqiú) — opening kick in football
  • Czech: výkop — opening kick in football
  • Dutch: aftrap — opening kick in football
  • Estonian: avalöök — opening kick in football
  • Finnish: avauspotku — opening kick in football
  • French: coup d'envoi — opening kick in football
  • German: Anstoß — opening kick in football
  • Italian: calcio d'inizio — opening kick in football
  • Japanese: キックオフ (kikku-offu) — opening kick in football
  • Japanese: 先蹴 (senshū) — opening kick in football
  • Korean: 킥오프 (kigopeu) — opening kick in football
  • Korean: 선축 (seonchuk) — opening kick in football
  • Korean: 먼저차기 (meonjeochagi) — opening kick in football
  • Norwegian: avspark — opening kick in football
  • Polish: rozpoczęcie meczu — opening kick in football
  • Polish: rozpoczęcie spotkania — opening kick in football
  • Portuguese: pontapé inicial — opening kick in football
  • Portuguese: pontapé de saída — opening kick in football
  • Russian: введе́ние мяча́ в игру́ (vvedénije mjačá v igrú) — opening kick in football
  • Russian: кик-о́фф (kik-óff) — opening kick in football
  • Spanish: saque inicial — opening kick in football
  • Spanish: saque — opening kick in football
  • Swedish: avspark — opening kick in football
  • Catalan: tret de sortida — opening sequence of an event
  • Finnish: alkupotku — opening sequence of an event
  • Finnish: aloitus — opening sequence of an event
  • Finnish: avaus — opening sequence of an event
  • French: lancement — opening sequence of an event
  • German: Auftakt — opening sequence of an event
  • German: Startschuss — opening sequence of an event
  • Italian: inizio — opening sequence of an event
  • Italian: partenza — opening sequence of an event
  • Portuguese: tiro de partida — opening sequence of an event
  • Portuguese: pontapé inicial — opening sequence of an event
  • Russian: старт (start) — opening sequence of an event
  • Russian: нача́ло (načálo) — opening sequence of an event
  • Spanish: pistoletazo de salida — opening sequence of an event