click

[ klik ]

/ klɪk /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: click / clicking on Thesaurus.com

noun

a slight, sharp sound: At the click of the latch, the dog barked.

a small device for preventing backward movement of a mechanism, as a detent or pawl.

Phonetics. any one of a variety of ingressive, usually implosive, speech sounds, phonemic in some languages, produced by suction occlusion and plosive or affricative release.

any one of a variety of familiar sounds used in calling or urging on horses or other animals, in expressing reprimand or sympathy, or produced in audible kissing.

Computers. the act of rapidly depressing and releasing a button on a mouse or other input device, usually the left-hand button, as to select an icon.

verb (used without object)

to emit or make a slight, sharp sound, or series of such sounds, as by the cocking of a pistol: The door clicked shut.

Informal.

to succeed; make a hit: If the play clicks, the producer will be rich.
to fit together; function well together: They get along in public, but their personalities don't really click.
to become intelligible.

Computers. to rapidly depress and release one of the buttons on a mouse or other input device, usually the left-hand button: Just click on the link to get to the site.Compare right-click (def. 1).

verb (used with object)

to cause to click.

to strike together with a click: He clicked his heels and saluted.

Computers.

to select (a screen object) by rapidly depressing and releasing one of the buttons on a mouse or other input device, usually the left-hand button: Click “OK” to continue .Compare right-click (def. 2).
to rapidly depress and release (a button on a mouse or other input device): Click the trackpad button once.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of click

First recorded in 1575–85; perhaps imitative, but perhaps from Dutch klikk (noun), klikken (verb)

OTHER WORDS FROM click

clickless, adjective

Words nearby click

clianthus, Cliburn, cliché, clichéd, Clichy, click, clickable, clickbait, click beetle, clicker, clickety-clack

Other definitions for click (2 of 2)

click²

or klick, klik

[ klik ]

/ klɪk /

noun Slang.

a kilometer.

Origin of click

First recorded in 1950–55; originally U.S. military slang; further origin unclear

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use click in a sentence

When combined with an organic promotional strategy, paid ads can be a big added driver of traffic and clicks.
Five content promotion strategies SaaS marketers should implement today|Izabelle Hundrev|August 28, 2020|Search Engine Watch
This is why you need to rank high in search engines so that your website gets the most clicks.
SEO tips for your retail store|Content Media|August 17, 2020|Search Engine Watch
For instance, ’FindThatLead’ is a tool that allows you to find your target’s contact details almost at a click of a single button.
Testimonial link building: Using real experiences for success|Rameez Ghayas Usmani|July 15, 2020|Search Engine Watch
On Facebook, the current price of a click has dropped several times – simply because many competitors have left.
Marketing strategies during COVID-19 times|Evelina Brown|July 13, 2020|Search Engine Watch

Only nine percent of content actually sees organic traffic from search results, and nearly 70% of all clicks go to the first five organic search results.
Content creation guide: How to effectively think of SEO at every stage|Kelsey Raymond|June 19, 2020|Search Engine Watch
So we picked out the song (“Rhiannon,” click here for video), and Deer Tick learned it.
Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll|James Joiner|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A click sends a user to a statement, a list of passenger nationalities, emergency call-center numbers, and other information.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For a longer list of 200 outstanding releases, click here.
The Best Albums of 2014|Ted Gioia|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was so great and it made everything click for me, because I was also interested in journalism.
Meghan Daum On Tackling The Unspeakable Parts Of Life|David Yaffe|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I hope that there is a trend away from the kind of “click-bait” type of essay that you often see on the Internet.
Meghan Daum On Tackling The Unspeakable Parts Of Life|David Yaffe|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Edna could hear the whispering voices of dead men and the click of muffled gold.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Black Hood shot twice, pulled the trigger a third time only to hear the hammer click on an empty chamber.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Perhaps the Eye heard that click and understood its meaning, for it was then that he made his dash through the rear door.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Now you hear the click-clock of an approaching cab, the cocher half asleep on his box.
The Real Latin Quarter|F. Berkeley Smith
"Come and see," said Betty and a click at the other end of the wire told Grace that the conversation was over.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope

British Dictionary definitions for click

click

/ (klɪk) /

noun

a short light often metallic sound

the locking member of a ratchet mechanism, such as a pawl or detent
the movement of such a mechanism between successive locking positions

phonetics any of various stop consonants, found in Khoisan and as borrowings in southern Bantu languages, that are produced by the suction of air into the mouth

US and Canadian slang a kilometre

computing an act of pressing and releasing a button on a mouse

verb

to make or cause to make a clicking soundto click one's heels

(usually foll by on) computing to press and release (a button on a mouse) or to select (a particular function) by pressing and releasing a button on a mouse

(intr) slang to be a great successthat idea really clicked

(intr) informal to become suddenly clearit finally clicked when her name was mentioned

(intr) slang to go or fit together with easethey clicked from their first meeting

Derived forms of click

clicker, noun

Word Origin for click

C17: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

click

Origin of click

OTHER WORDS FROM click

Words nearby click

Other definitions for click (2 of 2)

or klick, klik

Origin of click

Words related to click

How to use click in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for click

Derived forms of click

Word Origin for click