click

1 of 2

verb

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 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

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
For more information about the festival, click here. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave Goodmorningamerica.com. Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024 Find out how to report your concerns to the attorney general's office by clicking here. Katrina Michalak, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2024 Viewers may see custom segments making the offer during soccer games and ahead of certain movies, says Feldman, or even hear announcer’s prompting them to click to find ways to order. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 Ticket prices will increase at 1 p.m ET when the public onsale begins; click here for ticketing information. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2024 Submit your entry by clicking the ENTER DROP button. USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 Nick Burri clicks into his ski bindings, squats to stretch his knees, and scans the snowy race course. Thomas Peipert, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 To see all the looks from the 2024 Oscars red carpet, and for more of Glamour’s live show coverage, click here. Blanca De Almandoz, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Still, the landscape for independent film continues to be difficult not only for filmmakers but for festivals as well, as audiences face an ever greater proliferation of entertainment just a click away. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Ideas follow from other ideas with the satisfying click of a mathematical proof. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024 With the click of a button on your cellphone a driver will shuttle you a six-pack of beer or bottle of wine, but not without strict age verification software. Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 This story about scammers creating fake obituaries to get clicks and ad revenue details a modern twist on a familiar con. Daniel Wine, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 On the internet, there are a ton of UFC betting options with great odds and lines that are just a click away. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 While household staples like laundry detergent may eventually be purchased primarily with the click of a button, many shoppers will continue to want to touch furniture, clothing and other items in person. USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Whenever a concert is underway below, guards dot the plaza’s perimeter, waving pedestrians away from crossing, as the click of high heels and the rumble of wheelie luggage register quite clearly in the hall’s otherwise pristine acoustics. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 The more clicks and views a spreader of these rumors gets, the more their voice is amplified and able to be monetized. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'click.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of click was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near click

Cite this Entry

“Click.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/click. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

click

1 of 2 verb
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
: a short sharp sound heard in auscultation and associated with various abnormalities of the heart

More from Merriam-Webster on click

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