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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Critics of Newsom, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan — now considering a run for governor as Newsom reaches his term limit in 2026 — were quick to pounce on the report.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
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That’s equivalent to $24 million, but considering the length of his service (which began in the 1960s), the amount pales in comparison to the annual incomes of William and Charles.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Still, investors now have to make the tricky balance between hedging against geopolitical risks and playing the AI theme.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Throughout her life, her doting mom has snapped some adorable pictures of her hanging out with cousins, showing love to her siblings or playing dress up and looking just like a mini-me.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
15 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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Three people are awaiting trial on charges of physically and psychologically abusing the victim, now 17.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
-
He was arraigned three months later on charges of repeatedly abusing the child.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most recently, the administration began contemplating buying and converting large warehouses into detention centers.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
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By the time of the party, Eskilsson had stepped down as Tobii’s CEO and was contemplating a sedate life serving on boards.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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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An online war of words has tech leaders pondering a hollowing out of Silicon Valley, and millions of dollars are flowing to political committees engaged in the fight.—
MIchael R. Blood,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
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And for those pondering their futures, going out with a win sure beats the alternative.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
5 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 17 Jan. 2026.
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