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

Relevance

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 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking back
  1. resting
  2. hanging about
  3. relaxing
  4. kicking around
  5. basking
  6. lounging
  7. idling
Verb
  • That questioned turned into a heated debate recently in my Nextdoor website, when a fellow Monrovian posted photos of a mountain lion resting in his yard.
    — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The most controversial element of the CFTC’s rule is forcing affiliates to receive last priority at every price in the order book regardless of when a resting order was submitted.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 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
  • After exploring or relaxing by the pool, head to the freestanding infrared sauna with optional salt halotherapy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The layout is geared toward indoor-outdoor living, with ample space for relaxing and entertaining across four decks.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Verb
  • 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
  • Jac Schaeffer, that show's creator, was scheduled to helm this follow-up as well before bowing out of the Marvel machine, and VisionQuest has been kicking around in development for a bit.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of kicking around
Verb
  • In the days of former coach Billy Napier, Florida made a habit of basking in the wins.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Some employees, artists, and ex-girlfriends compare gaining his praise and attention to basking in the warmth of the sun itself.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of basking
Verb
  • At the stern, the line’s signature ocean lounge is fitted with fold-out terraces that open to create an expansive waterside area for lounging or watersports.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Your Photography by Kimberly Kalan Maison Flambeau has multiple outdoor dining and lounging spots, the most notable of which are its splash pool and sauna.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • Diesel engine idling and high-risk industrial activity across the street from homes and parks would bring air, noise and light pollution.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
  • And Rovell quickly discovered Kobe’s mind was incapable of idling, even during dead-of-night text exchanges.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of idling

Browse Nearby Words

kicking around
kicking back
kicking butt
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kicking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicking%20back. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All