Phrase guide

kick back

noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Nonstandard spelling of kickback.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, countable, nonstandard, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To relax; to laze.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal, intransitive

Examples

  • I'm going to stay at home on Saturday and just kick back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: take it easy, lie back, kick it, kick up one's heels

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To pay part of the proceeds of a transaction to a person or organization that mediated it, often in a way that is covert, improper, and illegal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal, intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • It was the local government’s practice to kick back to the police officer a portion of the fines collected from traffic tickets.
  • It was the insurer’s practice to kick back to the broker approximately 0.12% of the premium paid by the policyholder.
  • It was the company’s practice to kick back to the negotiator at the client company.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To return (something) to its original or rightful owner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • They'll kick it back to you if it turns up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To drink (something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • We'll kick back some beers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To move suddenly and forcefully in reaction to the main action (for example, when a firearm jerks backward when a bullet is fired, or when a table saw thrusts the workpiece in an unexpected direction).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You better watch yourself around that saw. That thing kicks back real hard occasionally, with no warning.
  • My revolver can handle .357 Magnum cartridges, but I use .38 Special, because I don't need it kicking back harder than a mule.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recoil

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

spring back, as from a forceful thrust

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The gun kicked back into my shoulder

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recoil, kick

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bounce, resile, take a hop, spring, bound, rebound, recoil, reverberate, ricochet

8

verb

Meaning 8

pay a kickback; make an illegal payment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pay

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.