B1verb1K

Kick

UK /["/kɪk/","/kɪks/","/kɪkt/","/ˈkɪkɪŋ/"]/US /["/kɪk/","/kɪks/","/kɪkt/","/ˈkɪkɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to hit somebody/something with your foot

In simple words: To hit something with your foot.

Examples

  • The soccer player will kick the ball towards the goal.
  • It's not polite to kick someone when they are down.
  • I decided to kick my bad habits and start exercising regularly.
  • He watched the dog kick up dirt as it ran around the yard.
  • After finishing the project, I needed to kick back and relax for a while.

Usage notes

Commonly 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.

Grammar pattern

kick + object

Memory hint

Think of a 'kick' like a soccer player kicking a ball.

Collocations

  • hard
  • 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 kick

Synonyms

  • strike
  • hit
  • boot
  • launch
  • puncture

Antonyms

  • stop
  • catch

Common mistakes

  • Confused 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)