Kick vs Launch

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Kick

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Launch

Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
 KickLaunch
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/kɪk/","/kɪks/","/kɪkt/","/ˈkɪkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɪk/","/kɪks/","/kɪkt/","/ˈkɪkɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 /["/lɔːntʃ/","/ˈlɔːntʃɪz/","/lɔːntʃt/","/ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lɔːntʃ/","/ˈlɔːntʃɪz/","/lɔːntʃt/","/ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTo hit something with your foot.To start or send something, especially into the air or space.
ExampleThe soccer player will kick the ball towards the goal.The company plans to launch a new product next month.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelB1B2
Part of speechverbverb
Collocationshard, savagely, viciously, against, at, in, kick a door down, kick a door open, kick a door shut, frantically, furiously, wildly, out at, with, drag somebody kicking and screaming, kick your legs, your legs kicklaunch a product, launch a campaign, launch into space, launch an initiative, launch a website
Antonymsstop, catchland, withdraw, cease
Common mistakesConfused with 'kicked' vs 'kick' (tense errors), Using 'kick' without an object when needed (e.g., 'He kicked the ball'), Misusing the phrase 'kick off' (not understanding its different meanings)Confused with 'lunche' as in a meal., Used incorrectly as a noun when referring to a launch event., Mispronounced or pronounced as 'lunch' instead of 'launch'.
Usage notesCommonly used in sports or play. In informal contexts, it can also mean to stop doing something (e.g., 'kick the habit'). Avoid in very formal writing.Use 'launch' in a business or technological context to describe starting a project or product. It's also appropriate when sending rockets or ships. Avoid using it in overly casual situations.

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Kick

Frequently asked questions: Kick vs Launch

What's the difference between Kick and Launch?

Kick: To hit something with your foot. Launch: To start or send something, especially into the air or space.

Which is more advanced: Kick and Launch?

Launch is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Kick and Launch the same CEFR level?

Kick: B1, Launch: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Kick and Launch?

Kick: verb, Launch: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Kick: The soccer player will kick the ball towards the goal. Launch: The company plans to launch a new product next month.

Can I use Kick and Launch interchangeably?

Not always. Kick and Launch are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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