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

Iniesta also scored the first spot-kick of the shootout. — Fox News, "Russia stuns Spain on penalties to reach World Cup quarterfinals," 1 July 2018 The research team found that a player flopping close to an official was three times more likely to be awarded a free-kick than someone playing victim further away. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Why soccer players take dives," 21 June 2018 The announcers were having some fun with the kick rating it as a four and a half. — Joseph Spears, Indianapolis Star, "Metta World Peace ejected from game after punting the ball into the crowd," 13 July 2018 Unlike the Original sauce, Sweet Heat has a spicy kick to it. — Kaila Contreras, Houston Chronicle, "Kingwood resident to appear on Food Network’s “Chopped Grill Masters” next month," 13 July 2018 The game will air in Central Florida at 11 a.m. and plenty of local bars and establishments will give fans a chance to catch every kick. — Trevor Fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Where to catch the World Cup Finals," 13 July 2018 The to-do list in a return to Triple-A El Paso included continued work on his defense, shortening both a high leg kick and long stride and generally slowing down his overall approach. — Jeff Sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres' Franmil Reyes savoring teachable moments," 13 July 2018 But Lovren gets him back with a hand to the chest and kick to the shin, and Sterling falls like the world’s tiniest china cabinet. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "Croatia Digs Deeper, Burying England’s World Cup Dreams," 12 July 2018 The post-workout shot, in particular, was a nice kick thanks to the ginger and turmeric. — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE.com, "I Ate Like Supermodel Kate Upton for Three Days — and It Wasn’t That Hard," 12 July 2018

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.