click

¹ American  

[klik] / klɪk /

noun

1. a slight, sharp sound.

   At the click of the latch, the dog barked.

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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verb (used without object)

• clicks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clicked,
  past participle,  past
• clicking
  present participle

1. to emit or make a slight, sharp sound, or series of such sounds, as by the cocking of a pistol.

   The door clicked shut.

2. Informal.

   1. to succeed; make a hit.

      If the play clicks, the producer will be rich.

   2. to fit together; function well together.

      They get along in public, but their personalities don't really click.

   3. to become intelligible.

3. 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.

verb (used with object)

• clicks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clicked,
  past participle,  past
• clicking
  present participle

1. to cause to click.

2. to strike together with a click.

   He clicked his heels and saluted.

3. Computers.

   1. 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 .

   2. to rapidly depress and release (a button on a mouse or other input device).

      Click the trackpad button once.

click ² American  

[klik] / klɪk /

Or klick,

noun

Slang.

1. a kilometer.

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click British  

/ klɪk /

noun

1. a short light often metallic sound

2. 1. the locking member of a ratchet mechanism, such as a pawl or detent

   2. the movement of such a mechanism between successive locking positions

3. 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

4. slang a kilometre

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

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verb

1. to make or cause to make a clicking sound

   to click one's heels

2. (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

3. slang (intr) to be a great success

   that idea really clicked

4. informal (intr) to become suddenly clear

   it finally clicked when her name was mentioned

5. slang (intr) to go or fit together with ease

   they clicked from their first meeting

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clicker
  noun
• clickless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• clicking
  present
• clicked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• click
  simple
• clicks
  simple
• have clicked
  perfect
• has clicked
  perfect
• am clicking
  progressive
• are clicking
  progressive
• is clicking
  progressive
• have been clicking
  perfect progressive
• has been clicking
  perfect progressive

Past

• clicked
  simple
• had clicked
  perfect
• was clicking
  progressive
• were clicking
  progressive
• had been clicking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will click
  simple
• will have clicked
  perfect
• will be clicking
  progressive
• will have been clicking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of click¹

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

Origin of click²

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

Explanation

A click is a sound like a sharp tap. Your dog might start barking excitedly every evening when he hears the click of your key turning in the lock. And you might click your computer mouse when you are excited about getting to another page on the web. Click is also a verb, meaning to make the sound of a click: "Don't click your tongue at me — I can have ice cream for dinner if I want to!" You can use the word in a figurative way as well, to mean "fall suddenly into place," as when a confusing math problem finally clicks for you. Increasingly, to click is to tap on a computer icon with a mouse: "Click through to my new website!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

click clicks clicked clicking

That is because some apps contain adverts so it can be hard knowing which link to click on.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

“Shake Your Money Maker” was very straight — click tracks to put the drum track together, now play the bass over that, blah blah blah.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

What information can strangers find out about me at the click of a button?

From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026

One way to begin your research is to click on the tickers for more information about each company.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

There was a click and pop in her ears.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Pras: Wirtz's creative quality gives him a high points ceiling if the system clicks under new manager Andoni Iraola, where he will be a lot closer to the goal.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

“We do not get paid for clicks or tokens or chats. The gamification of the most significant development in modern economic history seems to us misplaced.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

But with AI-generated answers to queries reducing clicks to outside websites, Reddit executives are assessing what the upside is of continuing to feed its content to Google, said the people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

“But just try and grab through and just whenever anything works or clicks or whatever, just don’t let it go.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

Imani clicks on “Movies” and starts to scroll down.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

It had finally clicked for me that things would not work out with the guy I’d been dating for a few years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Including a sentence which allowed for the possibility that someone other than Cameron had clicked on the like button by mistake.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The employee clicked a malicious link in an email and entered Microsoft 365 credentials into a fraudulent login page, IEH said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

When I clicked on the invitation, though, something felt off.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

At last she clicked her tongue and shook her head as she pushed the frame across the table.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Realising her nails clicking together sounded like a typewriter, she wrote 9 to 5 while waiting around on set.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

You can begin your own research by clicking on the tickers for more information.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

The team would put the players up in hotel rooms with two beds, subjecting Freeman to the incessant clicking of Heyward texting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

You can watch the full episode by clicking the image below.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

Following a brief lecture on the importance of proper sanitation, a small white piglet was herded into the room, its dainty hooves clicking against the concrete floor.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• get on