kick

American  

[kik] / kɪk /

verb (used with object)

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.

---

verb (used without object)

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

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

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of kick

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

Example Sentences

Scrum-half Jeremy Fernandez took the ball from a scrum and broke down the blind side before putting a perfectly weighted kick behind the Saints defence for winger Ambadiang to race onto and score.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“What they did was a backdoor move. They said, ‘we’ll just let everybody know we’re concerned,’ and that is enough to have stores kick you out.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Delta Air Lines and Constellation Brands kick things off the week of April 6.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Anything that brings the data-center buildout to a halt could kick the props out from under the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

“You’d better be paying for that, Nighthand,” the barmaid called out, “or I’ll kick your substantial arse out of here.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• blow
• jolt
• punch
• snap