kick

[ kik ]

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 ( def 24 ).
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. kicks, Slang. shoe ( def 1 ).
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. 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. 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. Informal.
   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. 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. 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.

6. Informal.
   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. to switch on; turn on:

   He kicked on the motor and we began to move.

8. to move from place to place frequently:

   He kicked about a good deal before settling down.

9. 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 ⁵( def 2 ).

kick

/ 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.
    intrsometimes foll byagainst 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. kick against the pricks
    See prick
16. kick into touch
    1. rugby soccer to kick the ball out of the playing area and into touch See touch
    2. to take some temporizing action so that a problem is shelved or a decision postponed
17. kick one's heels
    to wait or be kept waiting
18. kick over the traces
    See trace 2
19. kick the bucket slang.
    to die
20. kick up one's heels 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. kick in the pants slang.
    1. a reprimand or scolding designed to produce greater effort, enthusiasm, etc, in the person receiving it
    2. a setback or disappointment
11. kick in the teeth slang.
    a humiliating rebuff

Derived Forms

• ˈkickable, adjective

Other Words From

• kick·a·ble adjective
• kick·less adjective
• out·kick verb (used with object)
• o·ver·kick verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of kick¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of kick¹

C14 kiken, perhaps of Scandinavian origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. kick ass, Slang: Vulgar. Also Slang, kick butt.
   1. to act harshly or use force in order to gain a desired result.
   2. to defeat soundly.
2. kick in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. kick ( def 35a ).
3. kick in the pants, Informal.
   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 ( def 36 ).
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 the bucket, Slang. bucket ( def 15 ).
6. kick the tin, Australian. to give a donation; contribute.
7. kick over the traces. trace ²( def 3 ).
8. kick upstairs. upstairs ( def 8 ).

More idioms and phrases containing kick

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

Example Sentences

“I got kicked out of show business,” she jokes in her Netflix special, “For Your Approval,” which premiered on the streaming service in late September.

From Los Angeles Times

The past two winters have been uncommonly wet in California, and while it’s unclear how this season will turn out, this first storm is certainly kicking it off to an impressive start.

From Los Angeles Times

They also noticed damage to the house and heard yelling from inside, police said, prompting Mr Bookman to kick down the front door to enter.

From BBC

However, despite Smith's creativity in attack and accuracy from the kicking tee, England are still on their worst run since 2018 after five straight defeats.

From BBC

LRAs are a critical component of HIV cure research due to their role in what is called "kick and kill," the idea that HIV can be reawakened and actively targeted to eliminate the viral reservoir.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• give up
• stop