kinetic
adjective
Did you know?
Ever watch a top spin? Or see one pool ball collide with another and send it across the felt? When you do, you’re witnessing kinetic energy—the energy of something in motion. Kinetics is a branch of science that deals with the effects of forces upon the motions of material bodies, and something described as kinetic has to do with the motion of material bodies and the forces associated with them. Both words were adopted in the 19th century from the Greek word kinētikos (meaning "of motion") for use in the field of physics, but the adjective kinetic proved too apt for broader application, and by the 1930s it was being used to describe people and things full of literal and figurative energy as well.
Examples of kinetic in a Sentence
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Exercise Golden Shield brought together kinetic and non-kinetic effectors, advanced sensors and command-and-control systems in a unified architecture.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026
Tour properties include dramatic subtropical and desert landscaping, a front yard devoted entirely to succulents, kinetic metal and mosaic art, resident goats and a stop with 17 fruit trees alongside proteas and exotic succulents.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
That self-awareness reads more claustrophobic than kinetic here, and as an After Dark pick, the result sits in a strange but compelling pocket.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kinetic
Cite this Entry
“Kinetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kinetic. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kinetic
adjective
from Greek kinētikos "relating to motion," derived from kinein "to move" — related to cinema
Medical Definition
kinetic
adjective
kī-
