kiss

1 of 2

verb

kissed; kissing; kisses

transitive verb

1
: to touch (someone or something) with the lips especially as a mark of affection or greeting
kissed their children goodnight
2
: to touch (someone or something) gently or lightly
wind gently kissing the trees

intransitive verb

1
: to salute or caress one another with the lips
2
: to come in gentle contact
kissable adjective

kiss

2 of 2

noun

1
: a caress with the lips
a range of kisses from a passionate embrace to a friendly peck
2
: a gentle touch or contact
3
a
: a small drop cookie made of meringue
b
: a bite-size piece of candy often wrapped in paper or foil
4
: an expression of affection
sent him kisses in her letter
Phrases
kiss ass
vulgar : to act obsequiously especially to gain favor
kiss goodbye
1
: leave
2
: to resign oneself to the loss of
kiss one's ass
vulgar : to act obsequiously toward one especially to gain favor
kiss up to
: to curry favor with

Examples of kiss in a Sentence

Verb They kissed each other passionately. She kissed him good night. I'll never forget the night we first kissed. When he got off the plane he knelt down and kissed the ground. The tree's branches kissed the ground below. Noun He gave her a kiss on the cheek. She greeted him with a hug and a kiss.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Busch and his team would love to pose for more pictures kissing the bricks at IMS following Sunday’s race. Clifton Brown, Indianapolis Star, 17 July 2017 The trainer turns and kisses one of the man-eaters on the nose. Holly Millea, Smithsonian, 29 June 2017
Noun
Before the upload concluded, Conrad shared a sweet sunset kiss with Tell, and the carousel ended with a cheeky video of the television star carrying a surfboard and wearing a wetsuit. Angel Saunders, People.com, 28 Sep. 2024 The first kiss is a crucial moment in romantic storytelling — so the Nobody Wants This team took incredible care to deliver one that's unforgettable. EW.com, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for kiss 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kiss.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English cyssan; akin to Old High German kussen to kiss

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kiss was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near kiss

Cite this Entry

“Kiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kiss. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

kiss

1 of 2 verb
1
: to touch with the lips as a mark of love or greeting
2
: to touch gently or lightly
wind gently kissing the trees
kissable adjective

kiss

2 of 2 noun
1
: a loving touch with the lips
2
: a gentle touch or contact
3
a
: a small cookie made of meringue
b
: a bite-size candy
a chocolate kiss

More from Merriam-Webster on kiss

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