verb

kick

kihk

verb

To hit or strike something with the foot.

"He kicked the ball straight into the top corner."

"She accidentally kicked the table leg in the dark."

To forcibly remove someone from a place, group, job, or online activity.

"He was kicked out of the meeting for arguing with the manager."

"The moderator kicked her from the chat for spamming."

To give up a habit, especially an addiction.

"He finally kicked his smoking habit after years of trying."

noun

A feeling of excitement or enjoyment gained from something.

"She gets a real kick out of roller coasters."

The force or recoil produced by a blow or a firing gun.

"The shotgun has a strong kick when fired."

How to Use Kick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often means to strike with the foot, but also used informally for removing someone from a group, quitting a habit, or a thrill/buzz someone gets from something.

Common mistake

"Get a kick out of" means to enjoy something, not to be physically struck by it — the two senses can trip up learners.

Common pairings

kick a ball kick someone out kick the habit get a kick out of

Word Forms

kicked past tense, kicked past tense, kicked past tense, kick plural, kicked plural, kicks singular, kick singular, kicked singular, kickest singular, kickedst singular, kicketh singular, kicks singular, kicks singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ the ball straight into the top corner.

Etymology

From Middle English kiken, likely from an Old Norse word meaning "to bend backwards at the knee", describing the motion of striking out with the leg.

Rhymes for kick

ick tick nick sick pick rick wick mick hick lick Vick thick

See all rhymes for kick →