kiss

1 of 2

verb

ˈkis 

kissed; kissing; kisses

transitive verb

1

: to touch (someone or something) with the lips especially as a mark of affection or greeting

kissed their children goodnight

2

: to touch (someone or something) gently or lightly

wind gently kissing the trees

intransitive verb

1

: to salute or caress one another with the lips

2

: to come in gentle contact

kissable

ˈki-sə-bəl 

adjective

kiss

2 of 2

noun

1

: a caress with the lips

a range of kisses from a passionate embrace to a friendly peck

2

: a gentle touch or contact

3

a

: a small drop cookie made of meringue

b

: a bite-size piece of candy often wrapped in paper or foil

4

: an expression of affection

sent him kisses in her letter

Phrases

kiss ass

vulgar : to act obsequiously especially to gain favor

kiss goodbye

1

: leave

2

: to resign oneself to the loss of

kiss one's ass

vulgar : to act obsequiously toward one especially to gain favor

kiss up to

: to curry favor with

Synonyms

Verb

• smooch

Examples of kiss in a Sentence

Verb

They kissed each other passionately.

She kissed him good night.

I'll never forget the night we first kissed.

When he got off the plane he knelt down and kissed the ground.

The tree's branches kissed the ground below.

Noun

He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

She greeted him with a hug and a kiss.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Busch and his team would love to pose for more pictures kissing the bricks at IMS following Sunday’s race. —Clifton Brown, Indianapolis Star, 17 July 2017

The trainer turns and kisses one of the man-eaters on the nose. —Holly Millea, Smithsonian, 29 June 2017

Noun

Peanut Butter Kisses & Syrah For the Hershey’s Chocolate kiss topped peanut butter cookie, PJ Myers, beverage manager at Montage Palmetto Bluff says there’s no better pairing than a Northern Rhone Syrah especially from Cote Rotie. —Jillian Dara, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

Morales wiped tears from her eyes, while Underwood blew kisses to the live studio audience. —Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English cyssan; akin to Old High German kussen to kiss

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing kiss

• air-kiss
• blow (someone) a kiss
• butterfly kiss
• chef's kiss
• French kiss
• kiss and cry
• kiss and make up
• kiss-and-tell
• kiss of death
• kiss off
• kiss of life
• kiss of peace
• kiss someone's arse
• kiss someone's ass
• kiss something goodbye
• soul kiss
• steal a kiss
• the kiss of life
• throw (someone) a kiss

Kids Definition

kiss

1 of 2 verb

ˈkis 

1

: to touch with the lips as a mark of love or greeting

2

: to touch gently or lightly

wind gently kissing the trees

kissable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

kiss

2 of 2 noun

1

: a loving touch with the lips

2

: a gentle touch or contact

3

a

: a small cookie made of meringue

b

: a bite-size candy

a chocolate kiss