kick

[ kik ]

/ kɪk /

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See synonyms for: kick / kicking / kicks on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to strike with the foot or feet: to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.

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

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

Informal. to make (a car) increase in speed, especially in auto racing: He kicked his car into high gear.

to strike in recoiling: The gun kicked his shoulder.

Slang. to give up or break (a drug addiction): Has he kicked the habit?

Poker. raise (def. 24).

Chiefly South Atlantic States. to reject as a suitor; jilt: He courted her for two years—then she kicked him.

verb (used without object)

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.

to have a tendency to strike with the foot or feet: That horse kicks when you walk into his stall.

Informal. to resist, object, or complain: What's he got to kick about?

to recoil, as a firearm when fired.

to be actively or vigorously involved: He's still alive and kicking.

noun

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

power or disposition to kick: That horse has a mean kick.

Informal. an objection or complaint.

Informal.

thrill; pleasurable excitement: His biggest kick comes from telling about the victory.
a strong but temporary interest, often an activity: Making mobiles is his latest kick.

Informal.

a stimulating or intoxicating quality in alcoholic drink.
vim, vigor, or energy.

Football.

an instance of kicking the ball.
any method of kicking the ball: place kick.
a kicked ball.
the distance such a ball travels.
a turn at kicking the ball.

a recoil, as of a gun.

Slang. a pocket: He kept his wallet in his side kick.

kicks, Slang. shoe (def. 1).

Glassmaking.

a solid glass base or an indentation at the base of drinking glasses, bottles, etc., that reduces the liquid capacity of the glassware.
Also called punt, kick-up . an indentation at the base of a wine bottle, originally for trapping the sediment.

Verb Phrases

kick about, to move from place to place frequently: He kicked about a good deal before settling down.

kick around, Informal.

to treat (someone) harshly or inconsiderately.
to consider, discuss, or speculate about (a proposal, project, etc.): We kicked around various ideas for raising money.
to experiment with.
to pass time idly; wander from place to place aimlessly: We just kicked around for a year after college.
to remain unused, unemployed, or unnoticed: The script has been kicking around for years.

kick back,

to recoil, especially vigorously or unexpectedly.
Informal. to give someone a kickback.
Slang. to return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner.
to relax: Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.

kick in,

to contribute one's share, especially in money.
Slang. to die.
to become operational; activate; go into effect: The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.

kick off,

Football. to begin play or begin play again by a kickoff: The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.
Slang. to die.
to initiate (an undertaking, meeting, etc.); begin: A rally tomorrow night will kick off the campaign.

kick on, to switch on; turn on: He kicked on the motor and we began to move.

kick out, Informal.

to oust or eject: They have been kicked out of the country club.
to fail; give out: The power kicked out and the room went black.
to separate off, as for review or inspection: The computer kicked out the information in a split second.
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.

kick over, Informal. (of an internal-combustion engine) to begin ignition; turn over: The engine kicked over a few times but we couldn't get it started.

kick up,

to drive or force upward by kicking.
to stir up (trouble); make or cause (a disturbance, scene, etc.): They kicked up a tremendous row.
(especially of a machine part) to move rapidly upward: The lever kicks up, engaging the gear.
kip⁵ (def. 2).

OTHER WORDS FOR kick

1 boot.

11 remonstrate; oppose.

11, 16 grumble, growl, grouch, moan; protest.

See synonyms for kick on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about kick

kick ass, Slang: Vulgar.

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

Also Slang, kick butt .

kick in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. kick (def. 35a).

kick in the pants, Informal.

someone or something that is very exciting, enjoyable, amusing, etc.: I think you'll like her, she's a real kick in the pants.
kick (def. 36).

kick in the teeth, an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff: Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.

kick over the traces. trace² (def. 3).

kick the bucket, Slang. bucket (def. 15).

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

kick upstairs. upstairs (def. 8).

Origin of kick

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

OTHER WORDS FROM kick

kick·a·ble, adjectivekickless, adjectiveoutkick, verb (used with object)o·ver·kick, verb (used with object)

Words nearby kick

kibitka, kibitz, kibitzer, kiblah, kibosh, kick, kick about, kick a habit, Kickapoo, kick around, kick-ass

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

How to use kick in a sentence

This video covers route finding, uphill-skinning tips, and kick turns.
Uphill Ski Touring for Beginners|Outside Editors|February 5, 2021|Outside Online
Nike says the new kicks are geared towards everyday wear, from going to the grocery store or on a casual walk with friends.
Nike’s lace-free sneakers offer a perfect fit you simply step into|Claire Maldarelli|February 2, 2021|Popular-Science
On average, according to a mathematical analysis, the fast start lasted 827 meters, and the finishing kick started with 410 meters left.
The Physiology of the Finishing Kick|Alex Hutchinson|January 26, 2021|Outside Online
I don’t know who gets the bigger kick out of it, the players or the Presidents.
93-Year-Old Announcer Charlie Brotman Just Served in His 16th Inauguration. Here's Why He's Still Honored to Do the Job|Melissa August|January 20, 2021|Time

An oddity of Saban’s run at Alabama is that the Tide led the FBS in missed kicks from 2007 to 2019.
What To Watch For In The College Football National Championship|Richard Johnson|January 11, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
When fathers hold and play with their children, oxytocin and prolactin kick in, priming them for bonding.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Eventually, Weirich had to kick out her jacuzzi and plants from her sunroom, where she now holds court.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ramone, who turned to religion while trying to kick drugs, would probably approve (and laugh a little, too).
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Keith Green finds Ramone at the Chelsea, trying to kick heroin for good.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It not only had a kick-ass part, it was the first Israeli movie featuring a transgender character in a leading role.
Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos|Itay Hod|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The latter trod on the toes of the former, whereupon the former threatened to "kick out of the cabin" the latter.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
And with that the host gave him such a kick as sent him howling into the street, amidst the roars of the company.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
I knowed, a-course, that I could go kick up a fuss when Simpson stopped by his office on his trip back from Goldstone.
Alec Lloyd, Cowpuncher|Eleanor Gates
Next morning the hero of Wagram, lame from the effect of a kick from his horse, was summoned before the Emperor.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
And I should kick the bottom out of dis crate just because you don't like the looks of somebody behind us!
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

British Dictionary definitions for kick

kick

/ (kɪk) /

verb

(tr) to drive or impel with the foot

(tr) to hit with the foot or feet

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

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

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

(tr) rugby

to make (a conversion or a drop goal) by means of a kick
to score (a goal) by means of a kicked conversion

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

(intr) athletics to put on a sudden spurt

(intr) to make a sudden violent movement

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

(intr sometimes foll by against) informal to object or resist

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

informal to change gear in (a car, esp a racing car)he kicked into third and passed the bigger car

(tr) informal to free oneself of (an addiction, etc)to kick heroin; to kick the habit

kick against the pricks See prick (def. 20)

kick into touch

rugby soccer to kick the ball out of the playing area and into touchSee touch (def. 15)
informal to take some temporizing action so that a problem is shelved or a decision postponed

kick one's heels to wait or be kept waiting

kick over the traces See trace 2 (def. 3)

kick the bucket slang to die

kick up one's heels informal to enjoy oneself without inhibition

noun

a thrust or blow with the foot

any of certain rhythmic leg movements used in swimming

the recoil of a gun or other firearm

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

athletics a sudden spurt, acceleration, or boost

a sudden violent movement

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

informal power or force

slang a temporary enthusiasmhe's on a new kick every week

kick in the pants slang

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

kick in the teeth slang a humiliating rebuff

Derived forms of kick

kickable, adjective

Word Origin for kick

C14 kiken, perhaps of Scandinavian 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

Other Idioms and Phrases with kick

kick

In addition to the idioms beginning with kick

kick a habit
kick around
kick ass
kick back
kick in
kick in the pants, a
kick it
kick off
kick oneself
kick out
kick over the traces
kick the bucket
kick the habit
kick up
kick up a fuss
kick up one's heels
kick upstairs

also see:

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

kick

OTHER WORDS FOR kick

Idioms about kick

Origin of kick

OTHER WORDS FROM kick

Words nearby kick

Words related to kick

How to use kick in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for kick

Derived forms of kick

Word Origin for kick

Other Idioms and Phrases with kick