1
as in to debate
to give serious and careful thought to
the board spent the afternoon kicking around the feasibility of opening an overseas office
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
I really can't do much but kick around at work until I get the rest of the submissions
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
spent the afternoon kicking around, while his wife bought out the mall
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4
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
after spending a year in Europe kicking around, the backpacker was ready to return home
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5
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
children who were raised by an alcoholic father who regularly kicked them around
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kick around
As the college football season winds down, Penn State is still operating with an interim head coach after the dismissal of James Franklin, and Roethlisberger kicked around the idea of Tomlin heading to Happy Valley to take over that program.
—
Patrick Damp, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
In order to reach the mark that sports media watchers have been kicking around since the CBS Thanksgiving Day matchup was announced in May, the audience for the marquee holiday slot would have to be improve on the NFL’s all-time record by a whopping 19%.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025
In one form or another, the idea has been kicking around for decades, but Stardust has taken it a major—some might say terrifying—step forward.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Last week, the Sixers started kicking around the idea of having George back in the mix soon.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Patrick Damp, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
In order to reach the mark that sports media watchers have been kicking around since the CBS Thanksgiving Day matchup was announced in May, the audience for the marquee holiday slot would have to be improve on the NFL’s all-time record by a whopping 19%.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025
In one form or another, the idea has been kicking around for decades, but Stardust has taken it a major—some might say terrifying—step forward.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Last week, the Sixers started kicking around the idea of having George back in the mix soon.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kick around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick around
Verb
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Policymakers are interested too, debating whether public policy and taxpayer money should be used to propel off-site construction from niche application to a regular, if not dominant, feature of the industry.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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While many countries still debate how electric air travel should work, China is already laying the foundation.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rafaela played several positions for the Red Sox and subbed in games in later innings before making his first career start, at Bogaerts’ old spot.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
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Ayton competes internationally for the Bahamas, last playing for the national team during the 2024 Olympic qualifying process.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Adding further to the overall tension is the looming presence of a murderous knight in full armor roaming the countryside.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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With 22 miles of beaches, the nation’s largest urban park system, and endless trails along the Timucuan Preserve and Boneyard Beach, there’s always space to roam.—
Carrie Honaker,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Construction is set to begin on a new center in Morgan Hill for abused and neglected children and their families next month.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Once installed, NexShield immediately starts abusing Chrome or Edge in the background.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For families La Sultana Oualidia welcomes guests of all ages, and offers a diverse range of activities to keep younger travelers entertained.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
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If the federal government would stop putting on a violent show intended to suppress opposition and entertain their true believers, Pretti and Good would be alive.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bella Ramsey takes a break from killing zombies and avenging father figures, their usual pastimes in series The Last of Us, to fool around and fall in love in Sunny Dancer, a decidedly uneven but fitfully charming, YA-skewed British comedy-drama.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the structures go up, penguins and seals wander by to observe the team’s progress.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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An old man wandering in the dark.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By the slice Investors dominate housing in some of California’s most lightly populated counties when contemplating the share of houses not occupied by their owners.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
14 Feb. 2026
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Inside the private room of a Country Club Plaza steakhouse, top officials from the England national team contemplated their World Cup future.—
Sam McDowell
Updated February 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kick around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20around. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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