To kick means to strike something with your foot. You kick a soccer ball down the field, kick a stone along the sidewalk, or accidentally kick the leg of your desk when you stretch. A kick can be gentle, like nudging a door closed with your toe, or powerful, like a martial artist's kick that breaks a board.

The word also describes a sudden backward jolt. When you fire a rifle, the gun's kick pushes against your shoulder. An engine has kick when it roars to life. Something with kick has surprising force or intensity: spicy food that makes your mouth burn has real kick to it.

In a completely different sense, people get a kick out of something when it brings them joy or amusement. You might get a kick out of your little brother's silly jokes or watching your dog chase its tail. This meaning captures that feeling of delight or entertainment.

When someone kicks off an event, they start it. The principal kicks off the assembly by welcoming everyone. And if you kick back after a long day, you relax and rest.

Less commonly, kick can mean to quit a habit, as in “kick the habit,” though this usage is more common among adults.