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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kicking around
The group didn’t know much at all about golf course development, turning to Google and ChatGPT to figure out the footprint of an average golf course, and kicking around ideas amongst themselves about who to call about design and architecture.
—
Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
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
Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking around
Verb
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Take the quiz here … REAL STEAL – These states are considering eliminating property taxes for homeowners.—
,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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The Pats and Seahawks aren’t quite the draw of the Eagles and Chiefs, but Nielsen’s new measurement system has been boosting TV ratings across sports over the past six months, so put me down for a record 128 million (or more), especially considering the global appeal of Bad Bunny.—
Dan Shanoff,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Maybe the girl had crawled under a neighbor's trailer while playing hide-and-seek.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Massey also has experience playing the outfield, which should keep him in a regular role.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the legislation kept that data hidden from public view, so agencies can hire wandering cops in secret – and small-town budgets create a powerful incentive to do so.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Doctors are not a flock of free-range chickens wandering about offices and hospitals and making up best practices, one clinician at the time.—
Robert M. Califf,
STAT,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The couple was accused of abusing Ethan and their 3-year-old son.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
According to the lawsuit, Myer allegedly began abusing his police powers against Gabriele in September 2021.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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OpenAI may be contemplating an IPO before the end of the year in part to get out in the public market ahead of its rival Anthropic, according to the Journal’s reporting.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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Lately, she’s been reading up on the licensing rules in other states and contemplating a move after her husband finishes school.—
Natalie Yahr,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Fifty years of neglect and ignorance has led us to this day when 4,500 homeless individuals are roaming our streets and subways.—
Lucius Riccio,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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The nonprofit is a free-roaming shelter that has cared for homeless cats and kittens in the Denver area for over 35 years.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But homeowners like Kahn are already pondering San Jose without Mayor Mahan.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
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The Rams will be at home pondering what might have been.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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 Feb. 2026.
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