How to Use kick up in a Sentence

kick up

verb
  • The shot kicked up rocks and dust above him.
    — Tim Kelly, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The winds that kick up this time of year proved wicked.
    — Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
  • After a while the dust would kick up.
    — Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Wendy’s is kicking up the heat.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The stocks of drought, beer, and white wine had been kicked up a notch.
    — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 June 2024
  • Plus, the dogs would kick up rocks, tear up plants, and dig like crazy.
    — Wes Siler, Outside Online, 30 Apr. 2022
  • As soon as they were gone, flames kicked up again in a field across the street.
    — Riley Mellen, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
  • As the ocean breeze kicked up, the palms rustled around us.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
  • Last night’s rain has kicked up an earthy scent that surrounds us.
    — Eric Sullivan, Esquire, 5 Oct. 2017
  • The fruit takes on a bit of depth, the Port kicks up its heels.
    — Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 12 July 2018
  • The light dimmed, the ringing kicked up, and the fog rolled in again.
    — Krista Stevens, Longreads, 8 Nov. 2019
  • Mild, south winds will kick up to about 20 miles per hour at times.
    — The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 10 Mar. 2023
  • Slot could have kicked up a fuss about that afterwards.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Next week, the free agency frenzy kicks up.
    — Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
  • The wheels kick up a cloud of dust from the parchment-dry terrain.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Monday, winds from the south kick up and gust up to 25 mph.
    — Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
  • The clouds and plumes of dust kicking up showed what the forecasts promised.
    — Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • In the video, the suspect seems to kick up their right heel when walking.
    — Paula Newton, CNN, 14 Dec. 2021
  • This spring, everyone’s ready to kick up their heels and have some fun.
    — Irina Grechko, refinery29.com, 28 Mar. 2022
  • Add some brie to kick up the protein and serve some kettle corn on the side.
    — Emily Spicer, ExpressNews.com, 15 Aug. 2019
  • The wind had kicked up and was gusting all of 30 mph just as promised.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The front also brought strong wind gusts, kicking up dust and adding to the haze.
    — Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • But that's not the only thing being kicked up when a wall of dust rolls through.
    — Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 4 Sep. 2023
  • Throw it on over some khakis and sneakers or kick up the look with denim and boots.
    — Alexandra Cavallo, USA TODAY, 1 June 2020
  • Look for something that hits just above the ankle and get ready to kick up your heels.
    — Christine Whitney, WSJ, 5 Apr. 2018
  • Daniel O’Sullivan manages to kick up.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
  • The sun was falling swiftly and a wind had kicked up, whistling down from the top of the hill.
    — Tim Layden, SI.com, 21 Feb. 2018
  • Another person must deal with the wind that kicks up the dirt and garbage.
    — Michelle García, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2020
  • The fleeing car veered to the right shoulder, kicking up rocks and dust.
    — cleveland, 21 Nov. 2019
  • Winds will kick up in the Cleveland area and gusts will reach 28 mph.
    — Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 2 Jan. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kick up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: