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
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Recent Examples of kicking back
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
Spend your mornings kicking back on Biloxi Beach or Long Beach, perhaps flying a kite and enjoying a picnic lunch.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Sometimes there’s no better way to spend a spring day than kicking back on your porch—or deck, or patio, or stoop—and simply taking it all in, perhaps even with a refreshing beverage in hand.
—Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
Year-round warm weather, hitting the links, and kicking back with the grandkids has long been the quintessential American retirement dream.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
This has a similar curved design, and the chenille-like fabric lends this a coziness for kicking back and curling up.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Mar. 2026
The real issue is the compressor cycling off and then kicking back on, which can be abrupt enough to wake you.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
Instead, the board opts for the happy-go-lucky concert attendee kicking back a beer or two as its foil to scary THC use.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing wrong with spending your vacation at the beach, on a shopping spree in Paris or New York, or kicking back at a fishing cabin.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Spend your mornings kicking back on Biloxi Beach or Long Beach, perhaps flying a kite and enjoying a picnic lunch.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Sometimes there’s no better way to spend a spring day than kicking back on your porch—or deck, or patio, or stoop—and simply taking it all in, perhaps even with a refreshing beverage in hand.
—Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
Year-round warm weather, hitting the links, and kicking back with the grandkids has long been the quintessential American retirement dream.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
This has a similar curved design, and the chenille-like fabric lends this a coziness for kicking back and curling up.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Mar. 2026
The real issue is the compressor cycling off and then kicking back on, which can be abrupt enough to wake you.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
Instead, the board opts for the happy-go-lucky concert attendee kicking back a beer or two as its foil to scary THC use.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing wrong with spending your vacation at the beach, on a shopping spree in Paris or New York, or kicking back at a fishing cabin.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking back
Verb
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An altered Antarctic landscape could have significant impacts on its wildlife, from the microorganisms and algae that prop up the food chain – food for krill which, in turn, feed many of the region’s whales – to the penguins and seals that rely on sea ice for feeding and resting.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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The device works with a new health coach within the new Google Health app for iOS and Android and tracks steps, distance, sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, resting heart rate and heart rate variability.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The Hollywood star enjoyed her birthday week spending time with family, friends and Ramirez, as well as enjoying a relaxing spa visit.—
Sarah Sotoodeh,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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Think open hiking trails, relaxing inns at a more attainable value, and cool mornings with warm afternoons.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Verb
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And if there is a party involved, the excitement would be about basking in Gillian’s glory — or just enjoying any excuse for a party.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
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Stays at River Bluff Farm start with farm-fresh breakfasts and often involve floating down the river, picnicking atop the bluff, or basking in golden-hour views from the expansive deck.—
Hayley Hutson,
Travel + Leisure,
2 May 2026
Verb
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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
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Orion Nebula Those viewing from a dark sky location may also notice a blurry patch of light hanging about 5 degrees below Orion's belt.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Odenkirk and Kolstad have begun kicking around ideas for extending the character into an ongoing franchise.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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Although the likes of the Go Go’s and the Cars are present at times, the soundtrack as a whole seems too staid to provide a backdrop for ’80s kids kicking around in the heyday of punk.—
Gina Friedlande,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The hotel’s slim set of measured, crisp rooms draws a low-key crowd, ranging from honeymooners to city weekenders from Kuala Lumpur, all lounging with the same welcome, unpretentious ease of the hotel itself.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
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Dress them down with sneakers and a tank top while running errands or lounging around the house, or dress them up with loafers and a blouse for a day at the office or dinner with friends.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
Verb
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The prosecution showed the jurors chilling video and audio evidence that included Athena’s last moments after Horner lured her inside the FedEx van.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 May 2026
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This comes after the first part of his sentencing phase, where prosecutors showed jurors chilling surveillance footage taken from inside the truck that day, NBC DFW and the Star-Telegram reported.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Thanks for playing — and share your scores in the comments!—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Paul and Barlow spent several minutes in the second half playing in the frontcourt, giving Nurse options to switch seamlessly while playing small when other Sixers bigs dealt with foul trouble.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicking%20back. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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