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

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. 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.

2. 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.
3. 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.

4. to move from place to place frequently:

   He kicked about a good deal before settling down.

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. to switch on; turn on:

   He kicked on the motor and we began to move.

7. 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 ).
8. 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.

9. 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.

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. See prick
    kick against the pricks
    kick against the pricks See prick
16. kick into touch
    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
    kick one's heels to wait or be kept waiting
18. See trace
    kick over the traces
    kick over the traces See trace 2
19. kick the bucket slang.
    kick the bucket to die
20. kick up one's heels informal.
    kick up one's heels 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.
    kick in the pants
    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.
    kick in the teeth 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

This video covers route finding, uphill-skinning tips, and kick turns.

From 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.

From Popular-Science

On average, according to a mathematical analysis, the fast start lasted 827 meters, and the finishing kick started with 410 meters left.

From Outside Online

I don’t know who gets the bigger kick out of it, the players or the Presidents.

From Time

An oddity of Saban’s run at Alabama is that the Tide led the FBS in missed kicks from 2007 to 2019.

From FiveThirtyEight

When fathers hold and play with their children, oxytocin and prolactin kick in, priming them for bonding.

From The Daily Beast

Eventually, Weirich had to kick out her jacuzzi and plants from her sunroom, where she now holds court.

From The Daily Beast

Ramone, who turned to religion while trying to kick drugs, would probably approve (and laugh a little, too).

From The Daily Beast

Keith Green finds Ramone at the Chelsea, trying to kick heroin for good.

From The Daily Beast

It not only had a kick-ass part, it was the first Israeli movie featuring a transgender character in a leading role.

From The Daily Beast

The latter trod on the toes of the former, whereupon the former threatened to "kick out of the cabin" the latter.

From Project Gutenberg

And with that the host gave him such a kick as sent him howling into the street, amidst the roars of the company.

From Project Gutenberg

I knowed, a-course, that I could go kick up a fuss when Simpson stopped by his office on his trip back from Goldstone.

From Project Gutenberg

Next morning the hero of Wagram, lame from the effect of a kick from his horse, was summoned before the Emperor.

From Project Gutenberg

And I should kick the bottom out of dis crate just because you don't like the looks of somebody behind us!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• give up
• stop