kick

verb

\ ˈkik

kicked; kicking; kicks

Definition of kick

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to strike out with the foot or feet

b : to make a kick in football

2a : 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

1a : 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)

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

kick

noun

Definition of kick (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

4a : a feeling or expression of opposition or objection a kick against the administration

b : the grounds for objection

5a : 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 sense 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

Other Words from kick Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about kick

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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: Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Instead of burning tobacco to deliver a nicotine hit, e-cigarettes use a battery to heat a liquid that gives the user the same kind of kick. — Mary Beth Griggs, The Verge, "Big tobacco just spent $12.8 billion to get a taste of Juul," 20 Dec. 2018 Taking a closer look at the exact circumstances of the kick revealed the trick. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Single-beam laser becomes multi-beam laser by kicking electrons," 5 Dec. 2018 Coach Roberto Martinez won praise for his substitutions, with both Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli scoring, the latter with practically the last kick of the match. — Pan Pylas, chicagotribune.com, "Brazil and Belgium, two high-scoring attacks set for battle in the World Cup," 5 July 2018 The spicy Chocolate Maya flavor starts creamy cold, then finishes with a kick of heat. — Travel Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Two days to explore Oconomowoc," 10 June 2018 The crowd got a charge out of the hell-for-leather kick to victory by Michigan senior Ben Flanagan, who won the 10,000 meters in 28 minutes, 34.53 seconds. — Tim Brown, OregonLive.com, "MLB draft: Parker Kelly of Oregon Ducks selected by St. Louis Cardinals, could join his brother Carson in big leagues," 6 June 2018 Mallee agrees with Hoskins’ opinion that the timing of the leg kick isn’t far off. — Scott Lauber, Philly.com, "Why the Phillies are so confident Rhys Hoskins' slump is nothing to worry about," 24 May 2018 The kick sailed through the uprights, and the Rams players poured onto the field in celebration as an eerily silent crowd looked on with grief and anger. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "Rams Rally to Claim Super Bowl Spot," 20 Jan. 2019 Bieniemy was a Bengals running back and kick returner from 1995-98. — Joe Kay, The Seattle Times, "Former Broncos coach Joseph set to interview for Bengals job," 2 Jan. 2019

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.