# kick

/ˈkɪk/ (US) · /kˈɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kick
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to hit with the foot

verb · CEFR A2

to hit something or someone with your foot.

For teachers: to strike or propel an object or person using the foot or leg.

- The boy liked to kick the ball against the wall for hours.
- The striker managed to kick the ball into the top corner of the net just seconds before the final whistle blew.

### 2. to stop a habit

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to stop doing something that is bad for you, like a habit.

For teachers: to overcome or free oneself from a persistent habit or addiction.

- He finally managed to kick his habit of drinking too much coffee.
- Medical professionals often suggest that patients join support groups when they are trying to kick a long-term smoking addiction.

### 3. to remove from a group

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to force someone to leave a group, a game, or an online chat.

For teachers: to summarily eject a participant from a group or an online activity.

- The moderator had to kick the user for being rude to others.
- The server administrator decided to kick several players who were consistently violating the community guidelines regarding fair play.

### 4. a strike with the foot

noun · CEFR A2

an act of hitting something with your foot.

For teachers: a blow or forceful strike delivered with the foot or leg.

- He gave the door a hard kick when it wouldn't open.
- The horse delivered a powerful kick to the stable door, startling the nearby farmhands.

### 5. a thrill or fun

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a feeling of excitement, energy, or pleasure.

For teachers: a surge of pleasurable excitement or a temporary thrill.

- She gets a real kick out of seeing her students succeed.
- Many adrenaline junkies get a kick out of skydiving, despite the obvious risks involved in the sport.

### 6. spicy flavour

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a strong, spicy, or sharp taste in food or drink.

For teachers: a pungent or spicy quality that provides a sharp stimulus to the palate.

- The ginger gives this fresh juice a nice little kick.
- The chef added a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce to give it an extra kick without overpowering the delicate flavours of the seafood.

### 7. recoil

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the sudden backward movement of a gun when it is fired.

For teachers: the reactive backward spring or recoil of a firearm upon discharge.

- The rifle had a powerful kick that surprised the new shooter.
- Experienced marksmen learn to compensate for the kick of a high-calibre weapon to maintain accuracy during rapid fire.

### 8. shoes

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a pair of shoes, especially sneakers.

For teachers: a slang term for footwear, typically referring to fashionable or athletic sneakers.

- He just bought a brand new pair of kicks for the basketball season.
- The collector spent thousands of dollars on limited-edition kicks that he intended to keep in pristine condition.

## Examples

- He gave the ball a powerful kick.
- I get a real kick out of watching old movies on a rainy afternoon.
- The spicy sauce provides a sharp kick that balances the richness of the cream, though it may be too intense for some palates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.