click

1 of 2

verb

ˈklik 

clicked; clicking; clicks

transitive verb

1

: to strike, move, or produce with a click

clicked his heels together

2

: to select especially in a computer interface by pressing a button on a control device (such as a mouse)

3

a

: to turn (something) on or off by pushing a button or moving a switch

She clicked off the light, and we were plunged into darkness again.

—Pam Zollman

… I just kept fumbling till I found the remote and pulled it up out of the cracks of the couch and clicked the TV off.

—Donald Hays

b

: to change or move through (channels) especially by pushing buttons on a remote control

intransitive verb

1

: to make a click

2

a

: to fit or agree exactly

b

: to fit together : hit it off

they did not click as friends

c

: to function smoothly

d

: succeed

a movie that clicks

3

: to select something by clicking

—often used with on

click on the icon

4

: to change to a different channel or move through channels especially by pushing buttons on a remote control

She fiddled with the remote control until the TV turned on. She clicked through the channels.

—Juanita Carter

clickable

ˈkli-kə-bəl 

adjective

click

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a slight sharp noise

b

: a speech sound in some languages made by enclosing air between two stop articulations of the tongue, enlarging the enclosure to rarefy the air, and suddenly opening the enclosure

2

: detent

3

: an instance of clicking

a mouse click

Synonyms

Verb

• bond
• commune
• relate

Examples of click in a Sentence

Verb

He clicked his heels together and saluted the officer.

Her heels clicked on the marble floor.

Press the door until you hear the latch click.

To open the program, point at the icon and click the left mouse button.

Click here to check spelling in the document.

I know him fairly well, but we've never really clicked.

Noun

the click of her heels on marble

There was a click as the door closed behind him.

You can order movie tickets on the Internet with just a few clicks of your mouse.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

If this newsletter isn't already getting conveniently sent to your inbox, click here to subscribe. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024

But most people relentlessly clicking on the latest, freshest surveys aren’t looking for that. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024

Noun

The manipulation of a person’s untimely passing to drive reach, clicks and views is one thing, but to comment on it without a hint of the ironic commodification of a tragedy is another. —Lauren Coulman, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

And change isn’t always for the better, with every day another click on James’ odometer that will, in one of the NBA’s great mysteries, eventually max out. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably imitative

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing click

• click beetle
• click fraud
• click one's tongue
• click stop
• click through
• double click
• left-click
• point-and-click
• right-click

Kids Definition

click

1 of 2 verb

ˈklik 

1

: to make or cause to make a click

2

a

: to fit together

they did not click as friends

b

: to work smoothly

3

: succeed sense 2

the idea clicked

4

: to select by pressing a button on a control device (as a computer mouse)

click on the icon

click

2 of 2 noun

1

: a slight sharp sound

2

: an instance of clicking

a mouse click

Medical Definition

click

noun

ˈklik 

: a short sharp sound heard in auscultation and associated with various abnormalities of the heart