kicking back

verb

present participle of kick back
1
as in resting
to refrain from labor or exertion I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hanging (around or out)
to spend time doing nothing a good resort for people who want to kick back and watch others exercise strenuously

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of kicking back But instead of kicking back, Nadal’s been busy building a hotel empire. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 July 2026 Maybe that means kicking back by the pool with a refreshing summer drink in hand or treating yourself to a creative spin on a classic hot dog from one of these five Atlanta spots. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 4 July 2026 Here’s an outdoor lounge chair that naturally supports kicking back with a matching ottoman. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2026 There’s something about just kicking back at home, watching the matches with loved ones, and pulling out some games that center on sports. — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 10 June 2026 Madix also loves kicking back at the day clubs, with her top picks encompassing a range of experiences. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026 The game will kick off the Labor Day weekend slate, which is probably a good thing for those of you trying to get the game out of the way before kicking back the rest of the weekend. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026 The first half of the event includes activities that participants rotate through then make a splash in the pool or spend time kicking back, listening to music or completing an art project. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 Spend your mornings kicking back on Biloxi Beach or Long Beach, perhaps flying a kite and enjoying a picnic lunch. — Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking back
  1. resting
  2. hanging about
  3. relaxing
  4. kicking around
  5. basking
  6. lounging
  7. chilling
  8. playing
Verb
  • Slide open and step outside to sit at the deck’s fire table immersed in towering evergreen trees while resting your eyes beyond to the Sierra Nevada.
    — Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Matthew Stafford was resting as part of his maintenance plan, and Simpson split reps evenly with Stetson Bennett, with Bennett taking the first crack.
    — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of resting
Verb
  • President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • In 2019, city employees began hanging about 500 trick-or-treat pumpkin buckets in the trees on Main Street every October.
    — Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Definition of hanging about
Verb
  • Potassium helps lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel walls and helping the body clear out excess sodium.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The South is rich in relaxing beach towns, but, according to Michael Linder, general manager of The Mills House in Charleston, there’s one in particular that stands out.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Verb
  • The fantasy of a cultural architecture that’s as flexible as culture itself has been kicking around for more than 100 years, and there’s something obscurely disappointing about seeing a technocratic version get put into practice.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
  • Within the venue gates but outside the stands, groups of friends were playing cornhole and having picnic dinners from food trucks parked onsite; older attendees were chatting and kids were kicking around mini soccer balls.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of kicking around
Verb
  • And now, with championship aspirations entering his 13th season, and fifth in Los Angeles, Mack is basking in his role as the Chargers’ elder statesman.
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • And in the museum’s quiet moments in between, Hellerstein’s made a habit of going into the Ebbets Field room, turning off the ceiling light, and basking in the glow of the orbs in baseball’s most famous rotunda.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
Definition of basking
Verb
  • The beach was packed, many vacationers lounging near the turquoise waters when the drone slammed into the white sand and burst into a fireball.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The 59-year-old actress posed topless while lounging by the pool during her Fiji Islands getaway with Van Hunt.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • Pre-chilling your cooler and its contents, layering ice strategically, and packing food properly can all help keep everything colder for longer.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
  • Long-term mortgage rates have already hit their highest level in nearly a year, chilling the housing industry.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of chilling
Verb
  • But camp is about more than just a wide receiver playing well.
    — Chad Graff, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Carys made her professional stage debut in June, playing Nina in Anton Chekhov’s tragicomedy The Seagull in Brooklyn.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of playing

Browse Nearby Words

kicking around
kicking back
kicking butt
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Cite this Entry

“Kicking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicking%20back. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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