1
as in considering
to give serious and careful thought to
the board spent the afternoon kicking around the feasibility of opening an overseas office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in playing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hanging (around or out)
to spend time doing nothing
spent the afternoon kicking around, while his wife bought out the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly
after spending a year in Europe kicking around, the backpacker was ready to return home
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in abusing
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
children who were raised by an alcoholic father who regularly kicked them around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kicking around
Near where Cuin and Thiane were kicking around, Berkeley resident Marcelio Ramos banged his drum in preparation for the first draw.
—
Mathew Miranda
december 5, Sacbee.com, 5 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
One idea some appropriators are kicking around is a December funding deadline, but not one that bumps against Christmas, as has become standard.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
So of course, there’s things kicking around in my head with this show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
According to Hamel, who shared a demonstration of the lifelike robot earlier this year, Somers had been kicking around the idea for decades with inventor Ray Kurzweil.
—Karu F Daniels, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Forsberg has been kicking around Pittsburgh for a hair more than a decade now.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
Mathew Miranda
december 5, Sacbee.com, 5 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
One idea some appropriators are kicking around is a December funding deadline, but not one that bumps against Christmas, as has become standard.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
So of course, there’s things kicking around in my head with this show.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
According to Hamel, who shared a demonstration of the lifelike robot earlier this year, Somers had been kicking around the idea for decades with inventor Ray Kurzweil.
—Karu F Daniels, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Forsberg has been kicking around Pittsburgh for a hair more than a decade now.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking around
Verb
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In considering whether to allow the sales, China is trying to balance AI development with its push for chip self-sufficiency.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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In other business, the council began considering a request to annex a 47-acre parcel east of Bauer Farms, south of County Road 700 North and west of 625 West.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The teen was playing basketball at the park when he was approached by a group of young adults, who asked the teen if he was affiliated with a gang and tried to start a fight, police said.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Guys were playing hard, everybody on that drive was doing their job, and getting guys down on the ground.—
Mike Kaye
Updated January 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The human brain is highly susceptible to often unproductive mind-wandering, and modern technology has only made the problem worse.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The cafe is known for its panoramic view of small planes taking off or landing but also for past concerns about customers wandering off the driveway into the path of taxiing planes.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The pair also pretended that Tammy was allegedly abusing them.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Archbishop Mitty product and San Jose native Aaron Gordon scored 18 while abusing Podziemski and other Warriors guards in the low post.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Still, at least some are already contemplating a return to their homeland.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
-
After months of rumors about the downtown location, in January the company confirmed plans to shut down its stores in DOCO and the Sunrise Mall — the struggling retail center in Citrus Heights where city officials are contemplating eminent domain.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Unlike coyotes, which often range even in daytime as pairs or small family groups, bobcats and foxes spend the winter roaming their territory in solitude.—
Susan Koch,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
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The Detroit native also praised Rock's property, calling the home paradise as the beauty influencer lives on a lush land complete with chickens, peacocks and an assortment of roaming farm animals.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In this bleak economic environment, professionals who have lost their jobs as a result of AI are likely pondering what their next career move should be; whether to transition into a new industry or profession, or how to beef up their arsenal of skills.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
-
All the activity on his street Sunday left Smith pondering whether anyone’s safe these days.—
Robb Murray,
Twin Cities,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Gisin hopes that by fooling around with measurements of these more exotic states, physicists will come to better understand the role of measurement in general.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kicking around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicking%20around. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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