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 The menu, including Pickleball Palomas and other cocktails, is meant for kicking back at the pool before or after hitting the town. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026 Today's Walmart Deals of the Day are all about kicking back with epic discounts on gear that give your relaxation routine a serious boost. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026 Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill and left guard Donovan Jackson immediately turned toward the sideline to motion for the medical team, with Murray lying on his side and his legs kicking back and forth. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026 Downstairs, a dedicated lounge features a multi-screen entertainment setup, creating the perfect spot for game days, movie nights or simply kicking back with family and friends. — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 17 Aug. 2026 And don’t forget to grab a few pieces for simply kicking back and relaxing. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026 Before the fire, patrons were kicking back cold ones about a block from Down the Hatch. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking back
  1. resting
  2. hanging about
  3. relaxing
  4. kicking around
  5. basking
  6. lounging
  7. idling
Verb
  • Attorneys representing James Barbier, the now-elderly Missouri man charged with first-degree murder in the 1966 stabbing death of 18-year-old Karen Snider in Calumet City, declined to call any witnesses before resting their case Friday.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Prosecutors introduced evidence and testimony over about 4 ½ days before resting their case.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 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
  • The rooftop pool, complete with the aforementioned views, is perfect for relaxing after a busy day on your feet.
    — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
  • What to do nearby Just around 45 minutes outside of Atlanta, Château Élan is a great place for locals looking for a kid-friendly staycation or those who want to spend some time relaxing outside of the city.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Verb
  • In other words, the idea of turning roads into giant wireless chargers has been kicking around for years, and some projects are now producing encouraging results rather than just concept illustrations.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask has been kicking around Allure editors’ nightstands for years, and judging by its 2025 Readers’ Choice Award, plenty of you are just as hooked.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of kicking around
Verb
  • But in his own world on Wednesday, West has managed to remain indelible, finishing Wednesday night with a crowd of applause, briefly basking it in before taking a bow.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
  • So were the trademark online videos showing the candidate goofing around in a hoodie, name-dropping Dunkin and Market Basket, and basking in the adulation of sparse crowds.
    — Jon Keller, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of basking
Verb
  • There are also three on-site dipping pools ranging in temperature, perfect for lounging about and taking in the sights of the nearby Looking Glass Arch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • On October 12, however, the model took to Instagram to share photos of herself lounging in a white robe at a spa with a huge diamond ring on her left ring finger, adding fuel to the ongoing internet frenzy.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • In a 2002 case, a man and a woman in Belmont Cragin were similarly found dead in an idling car inside a garage.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Companies across the industry have been idling facilities, with Suntory pausing production at one of Jim Beam’s three Kentucky distilleries to upgrade the site while demand is low.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of idling

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 14 Nov. 2026.

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