kickup

1 of 2

noun

kick·​up ˈkik-ˌəp How to pronounce kickup (audio)
: 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

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.
Noun
Our Mustang had the Mach 1 Handling package, which raised its price by $3750 but earned its keep with gloriously sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, a rear spoiler with a cute Gurney kickup, and adjustable strut mounts. Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 27 June 2022
Verb
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025 But that kicks up a lot of smoke, or oxidative stress, that can harm cells. Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Kickup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kickup. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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