Kill: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for ending the life of a living being. Can be used in various contexts, including self-defense, hunting, or accidents.

• He killed the spider in his room.
• The lion killed its prey.

Specifically used when a person unlawfully takes the life of another person. Has a legal and negative connotation, often associated with crime.

• She was convicted of murder.
• The detective is investigating a murder case.

Often used in a historic or fantasy context, referring to killing in a dramatic or heroic way. Can also be colloquially used to mean 'impressive' in modern slang.

• The knight slayed the dragon.
• You slayed that performance!

May refer to ending something definitively, including contracts or services. When referring to life, it is more formal and impersonal, often used in scientific or technical contexts.

• The company decided to terminate the contract.
• The procedure will safely terminate the embryo.

This word is typically used when referring to ending a life or causing the death of a living being. It has a very strong and often negative connotation.

• The hunter managed to kill the deer
• The soldier was forced to kill in the line of duty

This word is used for bringing something to a conclusion or stopping an activity. It is neutral and can apply to both abstract and concrete situations.

• She decided to end the relationship
• The movie ends with a surprising twist

This word is more formal and is often used in official or technical contexts to mean bringing something to an end. It is neutral but can imply a definitive end.

• The company decided to terminate his contract
• The scientist recommended terminating the experiment

This word is used for a sudden stop to an activity or movement. It often implies a temporary stop rather than a permanent one.

• The traffic came to a halt due to the accident
• The project was halted because of lack of funds

This word is used when someone or something causes the death of a person, animal, or creature. It has a very strong and often negative connotation.

• The hunter was able to kill the deer with a single shot.
• She was shocked to hear that he killed a man in self-defense.

This word is used to describe the achievement of a goal or the attainment of something desired. It has a positive connotation.

• Graduating from college was a huge success for him.
• The project was a success because everyone worked hard.

This word is used when talking about striking someone or something with force. It can also be used figuratively to describe the success or popularity of something, like a song or movie. This word can be neutral or negative, depending on the context.

• He hit the ball so hard that it went out of the park.
• Her new song was a hit and topped the charts for weeks.

This word is used for very significant or noteworthy successes, often implying a sense of victory after struggle or overcoming challenges. It carries a very positive and sometimes grandiose connotation.

• Her victory in the marathon was a personal triumph.
• They celebrated their triumph over the adversities they faced.