kinetic energy

noun

: energy associated with motion

Examples of kinetic energy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The friction is self-interest, which sucks its mite of kinetic energy from every turning gear. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Bringing the heat The team focused on modeling how the kinetic energy of each impact would ultimately end up as heat. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 5 July 2026 Friction between the meteor and the increasingly dense air quickly turned the kinetic energy of the rock shooting through the sky into blistering heat. — Shawn Laatsch, The Conversation, 15 June 2026 The enormous kinetic energy generated by the impact is sufficient to destroy or disable the target without carrying a large explosive payload. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for kinetic energy

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kinetic energy was in 1870

Rhymes for kinetic energy

See All Rhymes for kinetic energy

Browse Nearby Words

kinetic art
kinetic energy
kinetic friction
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kinetic energy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kinetic%20energy. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

kinetic energy

noun
: energy associated with motion

Medical Definition

kinetic energy

noun
: energy associated with motion

More from Merriam-Webster on kinetic energy

Nglish: Translation of kinetic energy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kinetic energy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tacit

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All