Kick: meaning, definitions and examples
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kick
[ kɪk ]
football
A kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee. In football, a kick is a method of striking the ball with the foot to propel it in a desired direction.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| kick |
General term used for striking with the foot. Applicable in sports, self-defense, or informal speech.
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| strike |
General term for hitting, which can involve fists, other parts of the body, or even objects. Often used in formal or technical contexts, including descriptions of natural phenomena.
|
| boot |
Used to describe a forceful kick, often with the heel or heavy footwear. Can imply aggression or strong impact.
|
| punt |
Specifically used in contexts involving sports, particularly American football and rugby, where a ball is dropped and kicked before it touches the ground.
|
Examples of usage
- The player took a powerful kick at the goal.
- He scored a goal with a well-placed kick.
informal
To kick means to strike someone or something with the foot. It can also mean to end or stop something abruptly or forcefully.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| kick |
Use this when referring to a general, strong movement made with the foot or leg. It can pertain to sports, self-defense, or casual situations.
|
| strike |
Use this in contexts related to hitting something accurately, often with a specific object or part of the body. It is also commonly used to describe a deliberate act of hitting as part of a sport or combat. Sometimes it has a negative connotation, especially if used in the context of hitting someone.
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| boot |
This is often used in British English to refer to starting up a computer ('boot up') or to forcefully remove someone from a place or role. It can carry a negative connotation.
|
| punt |
Commonly used in American football to describe a specific type of kick where the ball is dropped and kicked before it hits the ground. It can also be used metaphorically for making a decision to delay or avoiding definitive action.
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Examples of usage
- She kicked the ball into the net.
- He kicked the habit of smoking.
Translations
Translations of the word "kick" in other languages:
🇵🇹 chutar
- pontapé
- chute
🇮🇳 लात मारना
🇩🇪 treten
- Stoß
- Kick
🇮🇩 tendangan
🇺🇦 удар
🇵🇱 kopnięcie
🇯🇵 蹴る (keru)
🇫🇷 coup de pied
🇪🇸 patada
🇹🇷 tekme
🇰🇷 차기 (chagi)
🇸🇦 ركلة
🇨🇿 kop
🇸🇰 kopanec
🇨🇳 踢 (tī)
🇸🇮 brca
🇮🇸 sparka
🇰🇿 теуіп жіберу
🇬🇪 დარტყმა
🇦🇿 təpik
🇲🇽 patada
Etymology
The word 'kick' originated from the Old English word 'cician', which meant 'to kick'. Over time, it evolved to its current usage in English. Kicking has been a fundamental human action for centuries, used for defense, hunting, and sports. The word has been widely used in various contexts, reflecting the physical act of striking with the foot.