What does "kicking" mean?

1. (a physical attack) a violent attack where someone is hit many times with feet. 2. (alive and active) full of life, energy, or health. 3. (exciting or fashionable) very exciting, lively, or stylish.

How do you use "kicking"?

Usually functions as a predicative adjective after a linking verb like 'be'.

kicking

n. · adj.

US //ˈkɪkɪŋ// UK //kˈɪkɪŋ// kick·ing

1 a physical attack (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

a violent attack where someone is hit many times with feet.

a violent physical assault characterized by repeated strikes with the feet.

Example

The victim was lucky to escape without serious injury after the kicking.

Example

The witness described a brutal kicking in the alleyway, noting that the attackers fled as soon as they heard police sirens in the distance.
- beating
- assault
2 alive and active (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

full of life, energy, or health.

functioning, healthy, or active; almost exclusively used in the fixed idiom 'alive and kicking'.

Example

Despite the rumours that the company was closing, it is still alive and kicking.

Example

The local arts scene is alive and kicking, with several new galleries opening despite the challenging economic climate of the past year.
- dead
- inactive

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3 exciting or fashionable (adj.)
C1 Advanced Slang

very exciting, lively, or stylish.

denoting a state of high energy, excellence, or fashionable appeal.

Example

That party last night was absolutely kicking.

Example

The club was kicking by midnight, with a line of people stretching down the block hoping to get inside.

Usage

Usually functions as a predicative adjective after a linking verb like 'be'.
- boring
- dull

Idioms2 entries