kickup

1 of 2

noun

kick·​up ˈkik-ˌəp How to pronounce kickup (audio)
Synonyms of kickupnext
: a noisy quarrel : row

kick up

2 of 2

verb

kicked up; kicking up; kicks up

transitive verb

1
: to cause to rise upward
clouds of dust kicked up by passing cars
2
: to stir up : provoke
kick up a fuss

intransitive verb

: to give evidence of disorder

Synonyms of kickup

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Noun

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Examples of kickup in a Sentence

Noun after their last kickup, they didn't speak to each other for a week
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
To kick up the heat, add one chipotle pepper in adobo (or more to taste). — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 This next phase is a kick up to 2,000, spread across Los Angeles County. — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 Not only will temperatures be well above average for Northern California, with heat advisories issued for the southern Cascades and foothills, but fire will be of particular concern as the afternoon breeze kicks up. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026 But the two lunar orbiters might be able to see not just the crash and impact crater but also the plume of dust kicked up by the rocket's death dive. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kickup

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1793, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1756, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kickup was in 1756

Rhymes for kickup

See All Rhymes for kickup

Browse Nearby Words

kick turn
kickup
kick up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kickup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickup. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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