kite

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of kitenext
1
: a light frame covered with paper, cloth, or plastic, often provided with a stabilizing tail, and designed to be flown in the air at the end of a long string
2
: any of various usually small hawks (family Accipitridae) with long narrow wings and often a notched or forked tail
3
: a person who preys on others
4
: a check drawn against uncollected funds in a bank account or fraudulently raised before cashing
5
: a light sail used in light wind usually in addition to the regular working sails
especially : spinnaker
kitelike adjective

kite

2 of 2

verb

kited; kiting

transitive verb

1
: to use (a bad check) to get credit or money
2
: to cause to soar
kited the prices they charged wealthy clients

intransitive verb

1
a
: to go in a rapid, carefree, or flighty manner
b
: to rise rapidly : soar
2
: to get money or credit by a kite
kiter noun

Examples of kite in a Sentence

Noun The children were flying kites. characterized the financial advisors as kites who took advantage of their customers
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
In one of the few tatreez that isn’t drawn from a news photograph or an image posted to social media, the opening words to Alareer’s poem appear, paired with a kite, a symbol for the poet of hope. Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 12 May 2026 The fort's expansive lawn is tailor-made for picnicking and flying kites. Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Verb
In February of 2017, the British business magnate Richard Branson posted photos of Obama learning to kite surf off Branson’s private island, in the Caribbean. Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 For example, kites need to be designed symmetrically to successfully catch the wind, which is often blowing horizontally, Choi said, adding that sometimes people don’t attach a kite’s tail properly, not realizing the tail helps the kite orient itself. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for kite

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cȳta; akin to Middle High German kūze owl

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kite was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kite. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

kite

noun
ˈkīt
1
: any of various usually small hawks with long narrow wings and a deeply forked tail
2
: a light covered frame for flying in the air at the end of a long string

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