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 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 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 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
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
  • Consider an older adult recovering from a hospital stay who spends the afternoon arranging transportation to follow-up appointments instead of resting.
    — Aimée K. Dailey, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Lindsay Clancy's Massachusetts murder trial resumed Monday in Plymouth Superior Court, with the prosecution resting its case.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 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
  • Pair your time in the pool with relaxing massages and facials, the former with organic oils scented with herbs and flowers from the island, and the latter with products from Rowse, the natural and cruelty-free cosmetics brand.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Gliding swings use a gentle gliding motion for relaxing your baby.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 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
  • At the time, insiders also shared that Evans and Baptista were basking in their newfound parenthood.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Rattlesnakes are most active in the mornings and evenings, and enjoy basking in the sun on Westminster pavement or trails, city officials wrote on social media.
    — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of basking
Verb
  • With a sizable beam of 45 feet, Whisper offers ample space for both lounging and entertaining across five decks.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In an Instagram carousel posted on Saturday, May 15, the actress, 53, shared a sweet snap of herself and her lookalike daughter, 22, lounging in coordinating swimsuits.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was seen over the weekend chilling on the field with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Olivia Ponton after practice.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • If the dough is still too sticky after chilling, mix in a small amount of flour, lightly dust your hands and work surface with flour, or pipe the dough instead of rolling or shaping it by hand, David suggests.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of chilling
Verb
  • Janssens would be one of those defenders playing in front of Suzuki in a new environment.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Manchester City’s defence was wide open in Sunday’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal and that could be a sign of things to come now that Rodri is playing for Barcelona in La Liga.
    — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 19 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 22 Aug. 2026.

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