kill
1to deprive of life in any manner; cause the death of; slay.
to destroy; extinguish; do away with: His response killed our hopes.
to destroy or neutralize the active qualities of: to kill an odor.
to spoil the effect of: His extra brushwork killed the painting.
to cause (time) to be consumed with seeming rapidity or with a minimum of boredom, especially by engaging in some easy activity or amusement of passing interest: I had to kill three hours before plane time.
to spend (time) unprofitably: He killed ten good years on that job.
Informal. to overcome completely or with irresistible effect: That comedian kills me.
to muffle or deaden: This carpet kills the sound of footsteps.
Informal. to cause distress or discomfort to: These new shoes are killing me.
Informal. to tire completely; exhaust: The long hike killed us.
Informal. to consume completely: They killed a bottle of bourbon between them.
to cancel publication of (a word, paragraph, item, etc.), especially after it has been set in type.
to defeat or veto (a legislative bill, etc.).
Electricity. to render (a circuit) dead.
to stop the operation of (machinery, engines, etc.): He killed the motor and the car stopped.
Tennis. to hit (a ball) with such force that its return is impossible.
Metallurgy.
to deoxidize (steel) before teeming into an ingot mold.
to eliminate springiness from (wire or the like).
to cold-roll (sheet metal) after final heat treatment in order to eliminate distortion.
Ice Hockey. to prevent the opposing team from scoring in the course of (a penalty being served by a teammate or teammates).
to inflict or cause death.
to commit murder.
to be killed.
to overcome completely; produce an irresistible effect: dressed to kill.
Slang. to feel a smarting pain, as from a minor accident; sting: I stubbed my little toe and that really kills.
the act of killing, especially game: The hounds moved in for the kill.
an animal or animals killed.
a number or quantity killed.
an act or instance of hitting or destroying a target, especially an enemy aircraft.
the target so hit or, especially, destroyed.
Sports. kill shot.
kill off,
to destroy completely; kill, especially successively or indiscriminately: The invaders killed off all the inhabitants of the town.
Informal. to extinguish; eliminate: The bus ride every day kills off all of my energy.
Idioms about kill
kill with kindness, to overdo in one's efforts to be kind: The aunts would kill their nephews and nieces with kindness.
Origin of kill
1synonym study For kill
Other words for kill
Other words from kill
- kill·a·ble, adjective
- self-killed, adjective
- un·killed, adjective
Words that may be confused with kill
Words Nearby kill
Other definitions for kill (2 of 2)
Origin of kill
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use kill in a sentence
Warren first began thinking about how brands and gamers overlap in 2011, when he started a gaming-focused media company called kill Screen.
Why new agencies are trying to capitalize on the online gaming boom | jim cooper | February 12, 2021 | DigidayAs the coronavirus continues to infect millions and kill hundreds of thousands in the United States, returning kids to their scholastic normalcy is proving to be a halting, difficult process.
The mid-pandemic return to school is totally weird for kids. And possibly lonely, too. | Petula Dvorak | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostIt also stops mice from squeaking, mostly because a good shot of it will kill a mouse.
Republicans have pushed back heavily against the $15 minimum-wage proposal, saying it would kill jobs and hurt small businesses.
CBO report finds $15 minimum wage would cost jobs but lower poverty levels | Eli Rosenberg | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostSpecifically because this was where, in 1954, Pedro Rodrigues Filho, later called “Killer Petey,” was born with a bruised skull, thanks to all the times his father tried to kill his mother while she was pregnant with him.
Without it, they say, the disease would surely kill her within two years.
That ground hold was to stop you flying through weather that could kill you and everyone else aboard.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTEven a relatively small 250-pound bomb could kill or injure friendly troops who are within 650 feet of the explosion.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019 | Dave Majumdar | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhat responsibility was taken by cops when they kill unjustly?
Protesters Demand Justice For Gurley As Gap Grows Between Cops and NYC | M.L. Nestel | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBy the way, I saw Good kill at Venice and really enjoyed it.
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange | Marlow Stern | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was little better than coal dust, and would not carry a ball fifty paces to kill or wound.
He could not bear to open his dreadful situation to his Uncle David, nor to kill himself, nor to defy the vengeance of Longcluse.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuAt last his anxiety reached a point where he was positive that if he received an adverse decision, it would surely kill him.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxIt was a very dangerous one, too, and sometimes lives were sacrificed in his efforts to capture or to kill this fierce wild beast.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. PikeSoldiers called out, and they gave two unfortunates leaden food enough to kill them.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
British Dictionary definitions for kill (1 of 2)
/ (kɪl) /
(also intr; when tr, sometimes foll by off) to cause the death of (a person or animal)
to put an end to; destroy: to kill someone's interest
to make (time) pass quickly, esp while waiting for something
to deaden (sound)
informal to tire out; exhaust: the effort killed him
informal to cause to suffer pain or discomfort: my shoes are killing me
informal to cancel, cut, or delete: to kill three lines of text
informal to quash, defeat, or veto: the bill was killed in the House of Lords
informal to switch off; stop: to kill a motor
(also intr) informal to overcome with attraction, laughter, surprise, etc: she was dressed to kill; his gags kill me
slang to consume (alcoholic drink) entirely: he killed three bottles of rum
sport to hit (a ball) so hard or so accurately that the opponent cannot return it
soccer to bring (a moving ball) under control; trap
kill oneself informal to overexert oneself: don't kill yourself
kill two birds with one stone to achieve two results with one action
the act of causing death, esp at the end of a hunt, bullfight, etc
the animal or animals killed during a hunt
NZ the seasonal tally of stock slaughtered at a freezing works
the destruction of a battleship, tank, etc
in at the kill present at the end or climax of some undertaking
Origin of kill
1British Dictionary definitions for kill (2 of 2)
/ (kɪl) /
US a channel, stream, or river (chiefly as part of place names)
Origin of kill
2Collins 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 kill
In addition to the idioms beginning with kill
- kill off
- kill or cure
- kill the fatted calf
- kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
- kill time
- kill two birds with one stone
- kill with kindness
also see:
- curiosity killed the cat
- dressed to kill
- fit to kill
- in at the death (kill)
- make a killing
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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