kick

1 of 2

verb

kicked; kicking; kicks

intransitive verb

1
a
: to strike out with the foot or feet
b
: to make a kick in football
2
a
: to show opposition : resist, rebel
b
: to protest strenuously or urgently : express grave discontent
broadly : complain
3
: to function with vitality and energy
alive and kicking
4
of a firearm : to recoil when fired
5
: to go from one place to another as circumstance or whim dictates
6
: to run at a faster speed during the last part of a race

transitive verb

1
a
: to strike, thrust, or hit with the foot
b
: to strike suddenly and forcefully as if with the foot
c
: to remove by a kicking motion
kicked off her shoes
d
: to remove from a position or status
kicked him off the team
see also kick to the curb
2
: to score by kicking a ball
3
: to heap reproaches upon (oneself)
kicked themselves for not going
4
: to free oneself of (something, such as a drug habit)
kickable adjective

kick

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a blow or sudden forceful thrust with the foot
specifically : a sudden propelling of a ball with the foot
b
: the power to kick
c
: a rhythmic motion of the legs used in swimming
d
: a burst of speed in racing
2
: a sudden forceful jolt or thrust suggesting a kick
especially : the recoil of a gun
3
4
a
: a feeling or expression of opposition or objection
a kick against the administration
b
: the grounds for objection
5
a
: a powerful or forceful effect
chili with a kick
b
: a stimulating or pleasurable effect or experience
often used in the phrases get a kick out of and (just) for kicks
… we just got a big kick out of seeing our names in the paperJoel Stein
She plays golf just for kicks [=for fun].
c
: pursuit of an absorbing or obsessive new interest
usually used with on
"… I'll get on a kick though where I can't get enough of something, and it'll show up in everything. … "Danny Markowicz
If you're on a post-Christmas health kick, there are plenty of seasonal vegetables to keep you going …Caroline Lindsay
6
7
kicks plural, US slang : shoes or sneakers
… nothing draws more attention to a rare pair of kicks than the cuffed hem of slim sweats.Steve Dool
Phrases
kick ass
often vulgar : to kick butt
kick butt
: to use forceful or coercive measures in order to achieve a purpose
also : to succeed or win overwhelmingly
kick over the traces
: to cast off restraint, authority, or control
kick the bucket
: die
kick up one's heels
1
: to show sudden delight
2
: to have a lively time
kick upstairs
: to promote to a higher but less desirable position

Examples of kick in a Sentence

Verb The attacker kicked him in the stomach. She lost her temper and kicked over the box. He kicked the ball into the goal. She kicked the ball to me. The policeman kicked the door open. The baby kicked his legs in the air. The swimming instructor reminded the children to kick their legs as they swam. The baby kicked with pleasure. He kicked the winning field goal. When he was 25, he kicked his cocaine habit and went back to school. Noun He gave me a kick in the leg. If you give the machine a little kick, it should start working again. a long kick in football
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
The annual SharonFest, kicking off July 28, is a party with a purpose. Jennie Key, Cincinnati.com, 20 July 2017 Indianapolis kicks off its four-game preseason schedule on Aug. 13 against the Detroit Lions. Mark Inabinett, AL.com, 18 July 2017
Noun
Another option is ginger beer, which offers a sharp, spicy kick that works well with dark spirits like rum or whiskey. Rachel King, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 The second-year pro is averaging 41.8 net yards per punt and has placed 12 of his 23 kicks inside the 20-yard line. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for kick 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English kiken

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of kick was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near kick

Cite this Entry

“Kick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

kick

1 of 2 verb
1
: to strike out or hit with the foot
2
: to object strongly : protest
kicked about their low grades
3
: to spring back
a shotgun kicks when fired
4
: to be full of pep and energy
still alive and kicking
5
: to score by kicking a ball
kick a field goal
6
slang : to free oneself of
kick the habit
kicker noun

kick

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a blow with the foot
b
: the movement of the legs in swimming
2
a
: a sudden moving (as of a ball) with the foot
b
: the sudden move backward of a gun when fired
3
: a feeling of or cause for objection
4
: a feeling or source of pleasure

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