kick around

verb

Definition of kick aroundnext
1
as in to debate
to give serious and careful thought to the board spent the afternoon kicking around the feasibility of opening an overseas office

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2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity I really can't do much but kick around at work until I get the rest of the submissions

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3
as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing spent the afternoon kicking around, while his wife bought out the mall

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4
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly after spending a year in Europe kicking around, the backpacker was ready to return home

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5
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon children who were raised by an alcoholic father who regularly kicked them around

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of kick around Calgary Flames forward Ryan Strome, a veteran of 916 games, doesn’t kick around with his teammates. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 8 June 2026 All told, it’s been a pretty spectacular and drama-free rollout for an idea that had been kicking around Hollywood for over 15 years. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 18 June 2026 No balls were kicked around, but a first impression was made about a pitch that’s cropped tighter than a Pebble Beach fairway yet in impressive shape after four games over 11 days. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 Husband and wife duo Cristina Marzolf and Matthew Marzolf, both 25, had been kicking around the concept of Press’d Cafe and Lounge, a family-friendly tropical escape that sells smoothies, juices and food for years. — Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for kick around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kick around
  1. debate
  2. play
  3. kick back
  4. roam
  5. abuse
  6. entertain
  7. fool around
  8. veg out
Verb
  • Georgia’s most influential dishes could be debated vigorously, but there’s no question that food has been an integral part of the South’s culture.
    — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 4 July 2026
  • The other was Michael Longfellow’s sketch about a guy dying at the top of a waterslide and debating whether he should be pushed down the slide or carried down the stairs, which was the only thing Bargatze kept talking about all week.
    — Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 4 July 2026
Definition of debate
Verb
  • Win prizes playing interactive games, network with artists and entrepreneurs and enjoy signature drinks and bar snacks available for purchase.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Men leaders can pay attention to and be mindful of who in the workplace may be playing more of an emotional support role that falls outside their job description.
    — Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of play
Verb
  • Here’s an outdoor lounge chair that naturally supports kicking back with a matching ottoman.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 27 June 2026
  • Instead of kicking back, most workers are delaying their flight from the nest thanks to an affordability crisis pinching the wallets of everyday Americans.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 June 2026
Definition of kick back
Verb
  • Visitors can hike trails and drive a scenic route through the colorful, rugged Badlands where bison and wild horses roam.
    — Jack Dura, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • The age of sail, when pirates like Johnny Depp’s fictional Jack Sparrow roamed the seven seas, ended about 200 years ago.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of roam
Verb
  • For more on how attackers can abuse connected devices, see our report on how the FBI warned that more than 1 million Android devices were hijacked by malware.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Some dogs fear brooms, vacuum cleaners or other household products, particularly if they’ve been hurt or abused in the past.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Definition of abuse
Verb
  • Even now at more than 50 years old, there is something undeniable about the movie’s ability to entertain, delight and terrify an audience.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The on-site Children’s Garden adds to its appeal, with interactive features that keep younger visitors entertained for hours.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of entertain
Verb
  • Another horny couple on vacation couldn’t wait until their flight landed to fool around and insisted on doing so in the plane's cabin.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Definition of fool around
Verb
  • Just take care of your[self], and veg out.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026
  • This set is damn near professional-wear, with a blazer-style top and contrast piping for those who like to veg out with dignity.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Dec. 2025
Definition of veg out

Browse Nearby Words

kick (about)
kick around
kick back
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Cite this Entry

“Kick around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kick%20around. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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