kickup

1 of 2

noun

kick·​up ˈkik-ˌəp How to pronounce kickup (audio)
Synonyms of kickupnext
: a noisy quarrel : row

kick up

2 of 2

verb

kicked up; kicking up; kicks up

transitive verb

1
: to cause to rise upward
clouds of dust kicked up by passing cars
2
: to stir up : provoke
kick up a fuss

intransitive verb

: to give evidence of disorder

Examples of kickup in a Sentence

Noun after their last kickup, they didn't speak to each other for a week
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
As the wind kicked up, the wishes rustled, as if in conversation. Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026 Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility. Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2026 These familiar rivals kick up more Devon Park dirt 12 months later, and most of the central figures are still in tow. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for kickup

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1793, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1756, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kickup was in 1756

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kickup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickup. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster