kicking back

verb

present participle of kick back
1
as in resting
to refrain from labor or exertion I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hanging (around or out)
to spend time doing nothing a good resort for people who want to kick back and watch others exercise strenuously

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 kicking back Today's Walmart Deals of the Day are all about kicking back with epic discounts on gear that give your relaxation routine a serious boost. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026 Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill and left guard Donovan Jackson immediately turned toward the sideline to motion for the medical team, with Murray lying on his side and his legs kicking back and forth. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026 Downstairs, a dedicated lounge features a multi-screen entertainment setup, creating the perfect spot for game days, movie nights or simply kicking back with family and friends. — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 17 Aug. 2026 And don’t forget to grab a few pieces for simply kicking back and relaxing. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026 Before the fire, patrons were kicking back cold ones about a block from Down the Hatch. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2026 But instead of kicking back, Nadal’s been busy building a hotel empire. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 July 2026 Maybe that means kicking back by the pool with a refreshing summer drink in hand or treating yourself to a creative spin on a classic hot dog from one of these five Atlanta spots. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 4 July 2026 Here’s an outdoor lounge chair that naturally supports kicking back with a matching ottoman. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking back
  1. resting
  2. hanging about
  3. relaxing
  4. kicking around
  5. basking
  6. lounging
  7. idling
Verb
  • Research suggests nasal breathing may lower the likelihood of developing allergies, and preliminary studies link resting nasal breathing to lower blood pressure than mouth breathing.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Danyl Bosomworth, founder of ice bath brand Brass Monkey, told The Independent that women tend to carry a higher body fat percentage, a smaller body surface area to volume ratio and a lower resting metabolic rate.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of resting
Verb
  • President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • In 2019, city employees began hanging about 500 trick-or-treat pumpkin buckets in the trees on Main Street every October.
    — Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Definition of hanging about
Verb
  • No wonder Dad had been terrified of making a mistake, of relaxing or trusting others enough to let his guard down.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • If school is the equivalent of work, then surely time at home is for relaxing after work.
    — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Verb
  • In other words, the idea of turning roads into giant wireless chargers has been kicking around for years, and some projects are now producing encouraging results rather than just concept illustrations.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask has been kicking around Allure editors’ nightstands for years, and judging by its 2025 Readers’ Choice Award, plenty of you are just as hooked.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of kicking around
Verb
  • While Usher was off basking in the afterglow of Confessions, maturing into a divorcé in the mid-2000s, the R&B world was already priming itself for a new-school successor.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The San Francisco 49ers were still basking in the glow of an exhilarating road win against division rival Seattle that extended their perfect start to the season when Christian McCaffrey offered a word of caution.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of basking
Verb
  • There’s also an outdoor shower for a quick rinse and multiple lounging spaces both in and out of the sun.
    — Rachel Fletcher, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Separate areas for lounging, dining and a drinks station, anchored by rugs, planter clusters or furniture changes, will become the default design brief.
    — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • Companies across the industry have been idling facilities, with Suntory pausing production at one of Jim Beam’s three Kentucky distilleries to upgrade the site while demand is low.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Diesel engine idling and high-risk industrial activity across the street from homes and parks would bring air, noise and light pollution.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of idling

Browse Nearby Words

kicking around
kicking back
kicking butt
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Cite this Entry

“Kicking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicking%20back. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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