kick

American  

[kik] / kɪk /

verb (used with object)

kicks, present (3rd person singular) kicked, past participle, past kicking present participle

1. to strike with the foot or feet.

   to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.

   Synonyms:

   boot

2. to drive, force, make, etc., by or as if by kicks.

3. Football. to score (a field goal or a conversion) by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball.

4. Informal. to make (a car) increase in speed, especially in auto racing.

   He kicked his car into high gear.

5. to strike in recoiling.

   The gun kicked his shoulder.

6. Slang. to give up or break (a drug addiction).

   Has he kicked the habit?

7. Poker. raise.

8. Chiefly South Atlantic States. to reject as a suitor; jilt.

   He courted her for two years—then she kicked him.

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verb (used without object)

kicks, present (3rd person singular) kicked, past participle, past kicking present participle

1. to make a rapid, forceful thrust with the foot or feet.

   He kicked at the ball. You have to kick rapidly when using a crawl stroke.

2. to have a tendency to strike with the foot or feet.

   That horse kicks when you walk into his stall.

3. Informal. to resist, object, or complain.

   What's he got to kick about?

   Synonyms:

   protest, moan, grouch, growl, grumble, oppose, remonstrate

4. to recoil, as a firearm when fired.

5. to be actively or vigorously involved.

   He's still alive and kicking.

noun

kicks plural

1. the act of kicking; a blow or thrust with the foot or feet.

2. power or disposition to kick.

   That horse has a mean kick.

3. Informal. an objection or complaint.

   Synonyms:

   protest, moan, grouch, growl, grumble

4. Informal.

   1. thrill; pleasurable excitement.

      His biggest kick comes from telling about the victory.

   2. a strong but temporary interest, often an activity.

      Making mobiles is his latest kick.

5. Informal.

   1. a stimulating or intoxicating quality in alcoholic drink.

   2. vim, vigor, or energy.

6. Football.

   1. an instance of kicking the ball.

   2. any method of kicking the ball.

      place kick.

   3. a kicked ball.

   4. the distance such a ball travels.

   5. a turn at kicking the ball.

7. a recoil, as of a gun.

8. Slang. a pocket.

   He kept his wallet in his side kick.

9. Slang. kicks, shoe.

10. Glassmaking.

    1. a solid glass base or an indentation at the base of drinking glasses, bottles, etc., that reduces the liquid capacity of the glassware.

    2. Also called punt, kick-up.  an indentation at the base of a wine bottle, originally for trapping the sediment.

verb phrase

1. kick off

   1. Football. to begin play or begin play again by a kickoff.

      The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.

   2. Slang. to die.

   3. to initiate (an undertaking, meeting, etc.); begin.

      A rally tomorrow night will kick off the campaign.

2. kick back

   1. to recoil, especially vigorously or unexpectedly.

   2. Informal. to give someone a kickback.

   3. Slang. to return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner.

   4. to relax.

      Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.

3. kick around

   1. to treat (someone) harshly or inconsiderately.

   2. to consider, discuss, or speculate about (a proposal, project, etc.).

      We kicked around various ideas for raising money.

   3. to experiment with.

   4. to pass time idly; wander from place to place aimlessly.

      We just kicked around for a year after college.

   5. to remain unused, unemployed, or unnoticed.

      The script has been kicking around for years.

4. kick in

   1. to contribute one's share, especially in money.

   2. Slang. to die.

   3. to become operational; activate; go into effect.

      The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.

5. kick over (of an internal-combustion engine) to begin ignition; turn over.

   The engine kicked over a few times but we couldn't get it started.

6. kick out

   1. to oust or eject.

      They have been kicked out of the country club.

   2. to fail; give out.

      The power kicked out and the room went black.

   3. to separate off, as for review or inspection.

      The computer kicked out the information in a split second.

   4. Surfing. to turn a surfboard by shifting the weight to the rear, causing the surfboard to come down over the top of a wave, in order to stop a ride.

7. kick on to switch on; turn on.

   He kicked on the motor and we began to move.

8. kick about to move from place to place frequently.

   He kicked about a good deal before settling down.

9. kick up

   1. to drive or force upward by kicking.

   2. to stir up (trouble); make or cause (a disturbance, scene, etc.).

      They kicked up a tremendous row.

   3. (especially of a machine part) to move rapidly upward.

      The lever kicks up, engaging the gear.

   4. kip.

idioms

1. kick the bucket, bucket.

2. kick in the ass, kick.

3. kick ass, Also kick butt

   1. to act harshly or use force in order to gain a desired result.

   2. to defeat soundly.

4. kick in the teeth, an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff.

   Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.

5. kick over the traces. trace.

6. kick the tin, to give a donation; contribute.

7. kick in the pants,

   1. someone or something that is very exciting, enjoyable, amusing, etc..

      I think you'll like her, she's a real kick in the pants.

   2. kick.

8. kick upstairs. upstairs.

kick British  

/ kɪk /

verb

1. (tr) to drive or impel with the foot

2. (tr) to hit with the foot or feet

3. (intr) to strike out or thrash about with the feet, as in fighting or swimming

4. (intr) to raise a leg high, as in dancing

5. (of a gun, etc) to recoil or strike in recoiling when fired

6. (tr) rugby

   1. to make (a conversion or a drop goal) by means of a kick

   2. to score (a goal) by means of a kicked conversion

7. (tr) soccer to score (a goal) by a kick

8. (intr) athletics to put on a sudden spurt

9. (intr) to make a sudden violent movement

10. (intr) cricket (of a ball) to rear up sharply

11. informal to object or resist

12. informal (intr) to be active and in good health (esp in the phrase alive and kicking )

13. informal to change gear in (a car, esp a racing car)

    he kicked into third and passed the bigger car

14. informal (tr) to free oneself of (an addiction, etc)

    to kick heroin

    to kick the habit

15. See prick

16. 1. rugby soccer to kick the ball out of the playing area and into touch See touch

    2. informal to take some temporizing action so that a problem is shelved or a decision postponed

17. to wait or be kept waiting

18. See trace 2

19. slang to die

20. informal to enjoy oneself without inhibition

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noun

1. a thrust or blow with the foot

2. any of certain rhythmic leg movements used in swimming

3. the recoil of a gun or other firearm

4. informal a stimulating or exciting quality or effect (esp in the phrases get a kick out of or for kicks )

5. athletics a sudden spurt, acceleration, or boost

6. a sudden violent movement

7. informal the sudden stimulating or intoxicating effect of strong alcoholic drink or certain drugs

8. informal power or force

9. slang a temporary enthusiasm

   he's on a new kick every week

10. slang

    1. a reprimand or scolding designed to produce greater effort, enthusiasm, etc, in the person receiving it

    2. a setback or disappointment

11. slang a humiliating rebuff

kick More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing kick

• alive and kicking
• for fun (kicks)
• get a bang (kick) out of

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outkick
  verb (used with object)
• overkick
  verb (used with object)
• kickable
  adjective
• kickless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• kicks
  plural

Participles

• kicking
  present
• kicked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• kick
  simple
• kicks
  simple
• have kicked
  perfect
• has kicked
  perfect
• am kicking
  progressive
• are kicking
  progressive
• is kicking
  progressive
• have been kicking
  perfect progressive
• has been kicking
  perfect progressive

Past

• kicked
  simple
• had kicked
  perfect
• was kicking
  progressive
• were kicking
  progressive
• had been kicking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will kick
  simple
• will have kicked
  perfect
• will be kicking
  progressive
• will have been kicking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of kick

1350–1400; Middle English kiken (v.); origin uncertain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kick kicks kicked kicking

In the 72nd minute, Swiss striker Breel Embolo was initially awarded a free kick, only for VAR to determine that he had taken a dive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

And France’s Kylian Mbappé still doesn’t understand why he was made to stand around for 3 minutes and 11 seconds during a review of an obvious penalty kick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

As second-quarter earnings kick into high gear this week, Wall Street analysts seem to be feeling pretty good, despite ongoing concerns about the impact of the Iran war.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 12, 2026

The game will always be remembered for his kick out at Argentina's Diego Simeone and subsequent red card.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Dad gives me a look, but it’s not like Aunt Melissa will kick us out because I need to hydrate.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Open, which kicks off in New York on Aug. 30, and where she will likely face another series of tricky hurdles on her path to a Grand Slam win.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

Are festivals turning from hedonism to health kicks?

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

AI capital spending will remain the focus as the second-quarter earnings season kicks off in full this week.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 12, 2026

The American version kicks off with the one-two-three punch of “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” “Yesterday’s Papers” and “Ruby Tuesday” and doesn’t let up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

The force of her steps kicks up dirt and leaves.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Knoll has written romantic scenes before, but “Helpless” needed to be enthralling and economic enough not to get her kicked off of Target’s bookshelves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

When Salazar pressed play, it kicked off an impromptu karaoke session, and the team joined in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

Thanks to social media and modern health crazes, hydration is no longer about just drinking water — and that has kicked off a corporate rush to develop and market more sophisticated drinks.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026

The biggest-ever tournament kicked off with 48 teams playing across Mexico, Canada and the US, but the national teams for all three host nations have since been eliminated.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

“I think so. Just before I kicked the windshield out. I almost died right there. Thanks for coming back for me. I don’t think I would have made it to the top on my own.”

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

“Lots of people say, ‘They’ll have to take me out of my home kicking and screaming,’” Loverde said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 12, 2026

As Dan Kois illustrates in this ode to kicking back with friends, spending unstructured time together is a blessedly simple cure to the ills of modern life.

From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026

“You need to have an IPO market that is coming back to health because otherwise it feels a little bit like kicking the can down the road,” Craton said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

But would kicking off at 12:00 local time rather than 18:00 have made any difference?

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

One morning, Connor and I went uphill to find the Dragon Sighs kicking up whirlpools of dust.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

Related Words

• blow
• jolt
• punch
• snap