kick

/kɪk/

//kɪk// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"kick" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“kick” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,950 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#1,950
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

kick vs kk
50% similar
kick vs kid
50% similar
kick vs Kim
25% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for kick
PropertyValue
Headwordkick
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/kɪk/
Letters4
Frequency rank#1,950
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kick” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). kick lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for kick is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kɪk/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,950 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for kick, with forms such as "ikck", "kcik", and "kicck". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "kk", "kid", "Kim", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent backwards”)… The correct English form is kick, spelled K-I-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.
  2. 2
    To make a sharp jerking movement of the leg, as to strike something.
  3. 3
    To direct to a particular place by a blow with the foot or leg.
  4. 4
    To eject summarily.
  5. 5
    To forcibly remove a participant from an online activity.
  6. 6
    To overcome (a bothersome or difficult issue or obstacle); to free oneself of (a problem).
  7. 7
    To move or push suddenly and violently.
  8. 8
    To recoil; to push by recoiling.
  9. 9
    To attack (a piece) in order to force it to move.
  10. 10
    To accelerate quickly with a few pedal strokes in an effort to break away from other riders.
  11. 11
    To show opposition or resistance.
  12. 12
    To work a press by impact of the foot on a treadle.
  13. 13
    To reset (a watchdog timer).
  14. 14
    To reproach oneself for making a mistake or missing an opportunity.

Etymology

From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kī-, *kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyH- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek.

This word in other languages

patear(Español)botter(Français)treten(Deutsch)chutar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ikck,kcik,kicck,kickk,kikc,kkick

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of kick - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ikck2kcik2kicck1kickk1kikc2kkick1
Edit distance from "kick"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "kick"?
"kick" is spelled K-I-C-K. The IPA pronunciation is /kɪk/.
What does "kick" mean?
As a verb, "kick" means: To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.
What words are commonly confused with "kick"?
"kick" is commonly confused with "kk", "kid", "Kim". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "kick"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kick" is /kɪk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "kick"?
From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent b... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “kick”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is K-I-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kɪk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “kk” - see the side-by-side comparison. kick vs kk
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list