kick

verb \ ˈkik \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: kick in a Sentence

Definition of kick

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

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

play \ˈki-kə-bəl\ adjective

— 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

See kick defined for English-language learners

See kick defined for kids

Examples of kick in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of kick from the Web

The annual SharonFest, kicking off July 28, is a party with a purpose.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "SharonFest 2017, the party with a purpose, kicks off July 28," 20 July 2017
Indianapolis kicks off its four-game preseason schedule on Aug. 13 against the Detroit Lions.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "Ryan Kelly looking forward to second NFL season at center of Indianapolis Colts' offensive line," 18 July 2017
That would explain why Peter Dinklage kicked off this season in total silence.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Game of Thrones Showrunners Explain Daenerys’s Odd, Silent Arrival," 16 July 2017
FCKC ORL Shots 7 25 Shots on goal 3 11 Saves 7 2 Corner kicks3 8 Fouls 5 10 Offsides 3 0 YELLOW CARDS Kansas City: Gibbons, 88th.

— kansascity, "FC Kansas City summary for July 15," 15 July 2017
Moving the cattle somewhere else to avoid conflict if wolves show up — or kicking them off the national forest altogether, as some critics would like — isn’t so simple.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "With cattle in Washington’s wolf country, ranchers work and worry," 14 July 2017
On a makeshift kickball field on the National Mall, Jacquelyn Keenan cheered as one of her teammates kicked a rubber ball into the air and sprinted for first base.

— jim rendon, New York Times, "In Social Sports, It’s About Camaraderie, Not Competition," 14 July 2017
Baseball's annual swap-o-rama got underway Thursday as the Cubs and White Sox kicked off the traditional shuffling of prospects for potential game-changers.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Buyers, sellers and more: What to watch for in second half of MLB season," 13 July 2017
Others pointed out that members of Congress have been scolded too, as when Representative Bobby Rush was kicked off the floor for wearing a hoodie to honor Trayvon Martin.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "Why Bogus News Stories Are So Hard to Stop," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kick.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of kick

Middle English kiken

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

kick Synonyms

Phrases

kick up a fuss;

kick

noun

Definition of kick

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 : pocket, wallet

4 a : a feeling or expression of opposition or objection

a kick against the administration

b : the grounds for objection

5 a : an effect suggestive of a kick

chili with a kick

b : a stimulating or pleasurable effect or experience

got a big kick out of meeting him

c : pursuit of an absorbing or obsessive new interest

a skiing kick

6 : kicker 2

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

See kick defined for English-language learners

Examples of kick in a Sentence

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 of kick from the Web

Think of the collection as the punk rock version of a clean, white pair of kicks: a sneaker that's too cool to worry about things like glossy polish and finishing details.

— tyler watamanuk, GQ, "These Converse Sneakers Get the Inside-Out Treatment," 13 June 2018
If there's still a tie at the end of the shootout, additional rounds of one kick each will be added until the tie is broken, which is also known as sudden death.

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "How Does Extra Time Work at the World Cup?," 12 June 2018
Belters from 30 yards, swerving runs past five defenders, the occasional bicycle kick—Messi and Ronaldo deliver all of these with the casual ease of your 13-year-old cousin lighting up a video game.

— jonathan clegg, WSJ, "Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo: Still Soccer’s Supreme Leaders," 12 June 2018
Richey said if a keeper can stop one or two of the kicks, that should help create a cushion for his team.

— charlie hatch, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati's 2018 U.S. Open Cup shootout couldn't replicate its 2017 'Cupset'," 7 June 2018
Then, Dustin teaches the next type of dolphin kick.

— leah prinzivalli, SELF, "I Want to Hate on These Mermaid Fitness Videos, but They're Actually Kind of Great," 24 May 2018
CITY’S CENTURY City left it to virtually the last kick of its last match to reach the magical 100-point barrier.

— steve douglas, The Seattle Times, "Liverpool into Champions League, Man City reaches 100 points," 13 May 2018
There’s a bittersweet flavor to Google’s new ventures, with the sugar kick of an awesome new convenience being accompanied by the aftertaste of ever-greater dependence on this single almighty company.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "At I/O, Google showed its willingness to change and shape our lives," 9 May 2018
Good Magic ran third in the Fountain of Youth back in early March and lacked any kind of late kick.

— joe sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, "Is Justify a Triple Crown threat? Hold your horses," 3 May 2018

kick Synonyms

Synonyms

challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, fuss, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, stink;

Near Antonyms

willingness;

approval, sanction;

acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent;

compliance, obedience;

cavil, quibble;

argument, conflict, debate, dispute, quarrel, squabble;

censure, criticism;

defiance, disobedience, rebellion;

distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty;

qualmishness, unease, uneasiness;

reluctance, unwillingness;

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate

KICK Defined for English Language Learners

kick

verb

Definition of kick for English Language Learners

: to hit (someone or something) with your foot
: to move your leg or legs in the air or in water especially in a strong or forceful way
sports : to score (a goal) by kicking a ball

kick

noun

Definition of kick for English Language Learners

: an act of hitting someone or something with your foot : a sudden forceful movement with your foot
: an act of hitting a ball with your foot
: a sudden forceful movement

KICK Defined for Kids

kick

verb \ ˈkik \

Definition of kick for Students

kicked; kicking

1 : to hit with the foot

kick a ball

2 : to move the legs forcefully Our swimming instructor reminded us to kick.

3 : to put an end to

kick a habit

—

kicker

noun

— kick off

1 : to start play in a game (as in football or soccer) by kicking the ball

2 : begin 1

Then he said, “Okay! Third grade! … We're going to try something different to kick off the year …”
—Megan McDonald, Judy Moody

kick

noun

Definition of kick for Students

1 : a blow with the foot

2 : the act of hitting a ball with the foot

3 : a feeling or source of pleasure

He gets a kick out of racing.

4 : a usually sudden strong interest He's on a health kick.

Learn More about kick

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for kick Spanish Central: Translation of kick Nglish: Translation of kick for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of kick for Arabic speakers

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kick

Definition of kick

kickable

Examples of kick in a Sentence

Recent Examples of kick from the Web

Origin and Etymology of kick

kick Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

kick

Definition of kick

Examples of kick in a Sentence

Recent Examples of kick from the Web

kick Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

KICK Defined for English Language Learners

kick

Definition of kick for English Language Learners

kick

Definition of kick for English Language Learners

KICK Defined for Kids

kick

Definition of kick for Students

kicker

kick

Definition of kick for Students

Learn More about kick

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