tipoff

American

[tip-awf, -of] / ˈtɪpˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

Basketball.

a jump ball that begins each period.

Etymology

Origin of tipoff

First recorded in 1910–15; tip ⁴ + (kick)off

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Auriemma suggested that he’d been stewing since before the opening tipoff.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

“We can play better, we got to play better,” Lue said before tipoff.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2025

The two-time All-Star, who averages 20.7 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds, was ruled out just before tipoff because of knee soreness.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

Michigan’s domination started at tipoff, Goldin easily beating Bilodeau for the jump ball and drawing a foul on his Bruins counterpart only 47 seconds into the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025

This is my first tipoff to something I will see evidenced again and again throughout the day: Vanessa Martinez is not a kind person.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023