Kick

/kɪk/ noun, verb, slang

noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A hit or strike with the leg, foot or knee.
  • Grammar: kick is listed as noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: boot, abandon, activate, aggressiveness.
  • Useful contrasts: admit, allow, block.
  • Usage evidence: For a guy who was chosen by his father as the only son to be taught the secrets of this martial art, he doesn't have that much of a kick.

How to use "kick"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kick" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kick" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kick" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kick" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "kick" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "boot" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "kick", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A hit or strike with the leg, foot or knee. countable, uncountable

    "A kick to the knee."

  2. 2
    the act of delivering a blow with the foot wordnet
  3. 3
    The action of swinging a foot or leg. countable, uncountable

    "The ballerina did a high kick and a leap."

  4. 4
    a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics wordnet
  5. 5
    Something that tickles the fancy; something fun or amusing; a pleasure; a thrill. colloquial, countable, uncountable

    "I finally saw the show. What a kick!"

Show 18 more definitions
  1. 6
    the sudden stimulation provided by strong drink (or certain drugs) wordnet
  2. 7
    The removal of a person from an online activity. Internet, countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    informal terms for objecting wordnet
  4. 9
    The act of restarting or resetting a watchdog timer. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired wordnet
  6. 11
    Any bucking motion of an object that lacks legs or feet. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "The car had a nasty kick the whole way."

  7. 12
    the swift release of a store of affective force wordnet
  8. 13
    A pungent or spicy flavour; piquancy. countable, uncountable

    "Add a little cascabel pepper to ordinary tomato sauce to give it a kick."

  9. 14
    A stimulation provided by an intoxicating substance. countable, uncountable
  10. 15
    A pass played by kicking with the foot. countable, uncountable
  11. 16
    The distance traveled by kicking the ball. countable, uncountable

    "a long kick up the field."

  12. 17
    The recoil of a gun. countable, uncountable
  13. 18
    A pocket. countable, informal, uncountable

    "Some nights I’d try my luck in the crap game and wind up with a grand or more in my kick."

  14. 19
    An increase in speed in the final part of a running race. countable, uncountable
  15. 20
    Synonym of kicker (“backlight positioned at an angle”). countable, uncountable
  16. 21
    Sixpence. British, colloquial, countable, dated, historical, uncountable

    "Two and a kick—two shillings and a kick."

  17. 22
    A shoe. colloquial, countable, uncountable

    "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks / You better run, better run, outrun my gun"

  18. 23
    Clipping of kickdrum; a 808. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg. transitive

    "Did you kick your brother?"

  2. 2
    To die. intransitive

    "Who knows what will happen to his billions when the eighty-five-year-old kicks, but before he leaves the planet, Moon reportedly is hell-bent on creating a holy land in North Korea, dedicated to him."

  3. 3
    To be emphatically excellent. intransitive, slang

    "That band really kicks."

  4. 4
    express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness wordnet
  5. 5
    To make a sharp jerking movement of the leg, as to strike something. intransitive

    "He enjoyed the simple pleasure of watching the kickline kick."

Show 19 more definitions
  1. 6
    make a goal wordnet
  2. 7
    To direct to a particular place by a blow with the foot or leg. transitive

    "Kick the ball into the goal."

  3. 8
    stop consuming wordnet
  4. 9
    To eject summarily.

    ""He's been mad at me ever since I fired him off'n my payroll. After I kicked him off'n my ranch he run for sheriff, and the night of the election everybody was so drunk they voted for him by mistake, or for a joke, or somethin', and since he's been in office he's been lettin' the sheepmen steal me right out of house and home.""

  5. 10
    strike with the foot wordnet
  6. 11
    To forcibly remove a participant from an online activity. Internet, transitive

    "She was kicked from the IRC server for flooding."

  7. 12
    spring back, as from a forceful thrust wordnet
  8. 13
    To overcome (a bothersome or difficult issue or obstacle); to free oneself of (a problem). slang, transitive

    "I still smoke, but they keep telling me to kick the habit."

  9. 14
    drive or propel with the foot wordnet
  10. 15
    To move or push suddenly and violently.

    "He was kicked sideways by the force of the blast."

  11. 16
    thrash about or strike out with the feet wordnet
  12. 17
    To recoil; to push by recoiling.

    "Lying on the ground, when fired, it kicked me back a foot. There was no way a person my size was going to be able to do an effective job with this gun."

  13. 18
    kick a leg up wordnet
  14. 19
    To attack (a piece) in order to force it to move. transitive
  15. 20
    To accelerate quickly with a few pedal strokes in an effort to break away from other riders. intransitive

    "Contador kicks again to try to rid himself of Rasmussen."

  16. 21
    To show opposition or resistance. intransitive
  17. 22
    To work a press by impact of the foot on a treadle. historical
  18. 23
    To reset (a watchdog timer). transitive

    "In the meantime, it is possible for the embedded software to “kick” the watchdog timer, to reset its counter to the original large number."

  19. 24
    To reproach oneself for making a mistake or missing an opportunity. informal, reflexive

    "He's still kicking himself for not investing three years ago."

Synonyms

All synonyms
bootabandonactivateaggressivenessaid to navigationair a grievance

Example

"For a guy who was chosen by his father as the only son to be taught the secrets of this martial art, he doesn't have that much of a kick."

Common questions

What does "kick" mean?

A hit or strike with the leg, foot or knee.

What is a synonym for "kick"?

Common synonyms include: boot, abandon, activate, aggressiveness, aid to navigation, air a grievance.

How do you use "kick" in a sentence?

For a guy who was chosen by his father as the only son to be taught the secrets of this martial art, he doesn't have that much of a kick.

How do you pronounce "kick"?

Pronounced /kɪk/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kī-, *kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyH- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek.

Etymology 2

Shortening of kick the bucket.

Etymology 3

Shortening of kick ass

More for "kick"

Synonyms

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