kiss
verb (used with object)
to touch or press with the lips slightly pursed, and then often to part them and to emit a smacking sound, in an expression of affection, love, greeting, reverence, etc..
kiss
1 American
[kis]
/ kɪs /
verb (used with object)
-
kisses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
kissed,
past participle, past
-
kissing
present participle
-
to touch or press with the lips slightly pursed, and then often to part them and to emit a smacking sound, in an expression of affection, love, greeting, reverence, etc..
He kissed his son on the cheek.
-
to join lips with in this way.
She kissed him and left.
-
to touch gently or lightly.
The breeze kissed her face.
-
to put, bring, take, etc., by, or as if by, kissing.
She kissed the baby's tears away.
-
Billiards, Pool. (of a ball) to make slight contact with or brush (another ball).
verb (used without object)
-
kisses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
kissed,
past participle, past
-
kissing
present participle
-
to join lips in respect, affection, love, passion, etc..
They kissed passionately.
-
to express a thought, feeling, etc., by a contact of the lips.
They kissed goodbye at the station.
-
to purse and then part the lips, emitting a smacking sound, as in kissing someone.
-
Billiards, Pool. (of a ball) to carom gently off or touch another ball.
noun
-
kisses
plural
-
an act or instance of kissing.
-
a slight touch or contact.
-
Billiards, Pool. the slight touch of one ball by another.
-
a baked confection of egg whites and confectioners' sugar, served as a cookie.
-
a piece of toffeelike confectionery, sometimes containing nuts, coconut, or the like.
-
a small, sometimes conical, bite-size piece of chocolate, usually individually wrapped.
verb phrase
idioms
-
kiss ass, to be obsequious; fawn.
-
blow / throw a kiss, to indicate an intended kiss from a distance, usually in bidding farewell, by kissing one's own fingertips and moving the hand toward the person greeted.
KISS
2
American
[kis]
/ kɪs /
noun
kiss
1
British
/ kɪs /
verb
-
(tr) to touch with the lips or press the lips against as an expression of love, greeting, respect, etc
-
(intr) to join lips with another person in an act of love or desire
-
to touch (each other) lightly
their hands kissed
-
billiards (of balls) to touch (each other) lightly while moving
noun
-
the act of kissing; a caress with the lips
-
a light touch
-
a small light sweet or cake, such as one made chiefly of egg white and sugar
coffee kisses
KISS
2
British
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
kisssimple
-
kissessimple
-
have kissedperfect
-
has kissedperfect
-
am kissingprogressive
-
are kissingprogressive
-
is kissingprogressive
-
have been kissingperfect progressive
-
has been kissingperfect progressive
Past
-
kissedsimple
-
had kissedperfect
-
was kissingprogressive
-
were kissingprogressive
-
had been kissingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of kiss
before 900; Middle English kissen to kiss, Old English cyssan (cognate with German küssen, Old Norse kyssa ), derivative of Old English coss a kiss; cognate with Old Norse koss, German Küss
Explanation
To kiss is to touch someone's face or lips with your own lips. Most people kiss each other as a way of saying "Hello!" or because they love each other. You might kiss your grandma on the cheek, kiss your girlfriend on the mouth, or kiss your dog on his furry head. In each case, you're using an ancient human practice that anthropologists believe evolved either from a basic instinct, or perhaps from the habit of mothers feeding their babies pre-chewed food, mouth-to-mouth. Colloquially, you can "kiss something goodbye," or accept the fact that you'll lose it — and "the kiss of death" is something sure to bring failure.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The isolated image of Judas bestowing a traitor’s kiss on Jesus is especially arresting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Before placing Castro's portrait in the window, Leonel Suarez gives it a kiss.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
The crowds who made it to kiss the shore in Ceuta with joy were met with nothing.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
He declined to elaborate on their relationship, but encouraged everyone to kiss their pals, of all genders, with the vigor of an artist who is finally, truly, free.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
“I’d miss my Twinkies,” Chris added, picking up one of the vanilla cakes and giving it a kiss.
From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis
Since then, Trump has been actively involved in programming, honoring some of his favorite artists like Sylvester Stallone and the band KISS, and by ordering major renovations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist for US glam rock group KISS, has died, his family said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley, founding guitarist for the American rock band KISS, has died aged 74, his family announced in a statement reported in US media.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2025
The first raft of Trump-approved picks included signer Gloria Gaynor, country music legend George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone and ’70s rock band KISS.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2025
But Dalton, Ralph, and I showed up that morning, all dressed as Gene Simmons from KISS.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Within moments of the series’ opening, she’s sliding a pie in the oven and futzing over tiny tarts and meringue kisses to photograph for her Hungry with Hollis followers.
From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026
Shatner and Nichelle Nichols, a Black actress who played Lieutenant Uhura, made history in 1968 with one of the first interracial kisses ever seen on US television.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
It makes the standing areas feel intimate - more like a club show than a stadium concert - with Styles zipping around the borders, blowing kisses and posing for cameras throughout the night.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
The two men held hands and exchanged French air kisses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
Old Hirsch kisses both my cheeks, Monek hurries for glasses, and half the room lights up.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
With tears in her eyes, she kissed her right hand and raised it skywards as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
The man went down on one knee and appeared to propose to the woman, before they kissed and embraced.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
The cheer from the sold-out crowd at Crypto.com Arena was deafening when James kissed a left handed layup off the glass to pull the Lakers to within one possession with 2:59 left.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
When they walked from the military transports, some of them knelt on the tarmac and kissed the ground.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
It’s impossible to believe that this is the boy who kissed me in the yard, wove his fingers through mine, laughed into my ear.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
He was recently caught on camera kissing a junior lawyer in Central Park and has been placed on a leave of absence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Somehow, he managed to restrain himself from bending to one knee and kissing the president’s ring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Researchers recorded instances of reassuring physical contact, including touching, embracing and kissing.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Seen from below, the table’s ebonized-birch legs also suggest, by turns, two figures kissing, ancient post-and-lintel architecture, an undulating serpent and a recumbent figure by Henry Moore.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
“No apologies necessary, my dear Tara. You look lovely, as always,” Mr. Barris says, kissing her on both cheeks.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
