had kicked off

USAGE SUMMARY

"had kicked off" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is most commonly used in the past perfect tense to describe an event or action that happened before another event or action in the past. For example: The summer party had kicked off before we arrived.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Their disappearance had kicked off an intensive search effort.

The New York Times

Long before that, though, the scandal had kicked off.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

going to find out about Alaves once the match had kicked off.

The Guardian - Sport

Last night's awards finished beyond 11pm after drinks had kicked off at... 6.15pm.

The Guardian

He hired Jerry Norman, whom he had kicked off the team as a player, as an assistant.

The New York Times - Sports

And 23 July, the day when all four quarter-finals had kicked off simultaneously at 3pm, was particularly infamous.

The Guardian - Sport

Draghi's hints had kicked off a "full-on relief rally" said Jasper Lawler, market analyst at spreadbetting firm CMC Markets.

The Guardian - Business

But hells bells, even that would be so much easier if the game had kicked off at 7.30pm or 8pm.

The Guardian - Sport

Abbott had kicked off the discussion by asking for Malcolm Turnbull to express a view on plebiscites.

The Guardian

Clancy said the secret service had "kicked off a work-life initiative" around "three or four weeks ago" to help agents who need it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Before the tournament had kicked-off, the forward Josh Papalii was also threatened and robbed of £200 during a night out in the city.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had kicked off" when you want to emphasize that an event or process started before another event in the past. For example, "The meeting had kicked off before I arrived."

Common error

Avoid using "had kicked off" in the present or future tense. It's specific to past perfect situations. Instead use "kicks off" for present or future.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "had kicked off" is to form the past perfect tense of the phrasal verb "kick off". This tense indicates that an action was completed before another action in the past. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had kicked off" functions as a past perfect phrasal verb, primarily used to indicate that an event began before another point in the past. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and business domains. While generally neutral in register, it's important to use it in the correct tense and avoid it for present or future scenarios. Alternative phrases such as "had started" or "had begun" can be used, depending on the desired level of formality. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "had kicked off" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had started

Simple and direct synonym, focusing on the commencement of something.

had begun

Similar to "had started" but can imply a more formal or significant beginning.

had initiated

Implies a proactive beginning, often suggesting a planned or deliberate start.

had commenced

A more formal alternative, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

had launched

Suggests a more forceful or public beginning, like a product launch or campaign.

had got underway

A more idiomatic alternative, indicating that something is in progress after starting.

had set in motion

Suggests a beginning that triggers a series of subsequent events or actions.

had triggered

Similar to "had sparked", but can suggest a more automatic or less intentional start.

had sparked

Implies that something caused a sudden or energetic beginning.

had inaugurated

A formal term implying an official or ceremonial beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "had kicked off" in a sentence?

"Had kicked off" is used to describe an action that started before another action in the past. For example, "The concert "had kicked off" before we found our seats."

What's a simple alternative to "had kicked off"?

A simple alternative is "had started". For example, instead of saying "The game "had kicked off" on time", you could say "The game had started on time".

Is "had kicked off" formal or informal?

"Had kicked off" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "had commenced" might be preferred in very formal settings.

Can I use "had kicked off" to describe something starting in the future?

No, ""had kicked off"" is past perfect tense and refers to something that began before another point in the past. Use "kicks off" for present or future events.