How to Use tip-off in a Sentence

tip-off

noun
  • But the big tip-off for me was when both boats did not leave at the same time.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
  • This is one of the most obvious tip-offs.
    — Jessica Pellien, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Less than an hour before tip-off, Reaves was ruled out again.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Caitlin Clark was scratched an hour before tip-off a few days ago because of a bad back.
    — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
  • Expect an intense and closely fought game from tip-off to the final buzzer.
    — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2023
  • Durant was ruled out about 90 minutes before tip-off.
    — Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Or perhaps your real start of spring is the tip-off of March Madness.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Police said the operation was carried out based on a tip-off.
    — Lucas Lilieholm, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Lisa Leslie and Kym Hampton were at center court for the pregame tip-off.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 22 June 2026
  • The team announced that Wembanyama would be able to play about an hour before tip-off.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Now fans are racing on Monday to select their very-best bracket ahead of tip-off this week.
    — USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
  • Shaver didn’t miss this game, honored before tip-off for Senior Night.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2023
  • Get ready for tip-off because Running Point season 2 is about to hit the court.
    — Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Get to the Garden 45 minutes before tip-off to catch players up close.
    — Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Because clearly the YoungBoy effect doesn’t just fade by tip-off.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Prime Time As tip-off time approaches, Ellie heads to the court to pump up the crowd.
    — Marc Williams, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Those Illini supporters were energized from tip-off all the way to the final buzzer.
    — Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
  • But hours before tip-off, the conversation shifted.
    — Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The tip-off to a tree like this is the ancillary sign nearby; look for droppings, rubs, scrapes, and kicked up leaves and grass left by feeding deer.
    — Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 20 July 2023
  • Fans packed into downtown hours before tip-off, sporting purple garb head to toe and chanting their city’s name in unison.
    — Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2023
  • Beyond handling Missouri, there’s handling the wait until tip-off.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
  • The Fever disclosed Clark’s injury two hours before tip-off on Wednesday.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
  • There were a few empty seats at tip-off, but when fans arrived, the place was loud and filled with Ballhalla energy.
    — Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • It’s been one week and some change since the WNBA tip-off, and a lot has already happened.
    — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • That puts the league just weeks from tip-off, as training camps ramp up and rosters begin to take shape after the April 13 draft.
    — Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
  • More coverage to come this week ahead of WNBA season tip-off.
    — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 3 May 2026
  • Beyond the newborn, the screenings are a tip-off for testing siblings and other family members.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
  • DeMarco said Sabally would warm up before tip-off and was a game-time decision for the matchup.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
  • According to Fox News, a moment of silence for Keith was held prior to tip-off.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024
  • Ayton, who had been listed as questionable, was ultimately ruled out shortly before tip-off.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tip-off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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