Definition of kill - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
biologycause the death of a living being
- The hunter killed the deer.
2.
conflictend or extinguish something forcefully
- The new law killed the project.
3.
technologyTECH. stop or deactivate a functionTECH.
- He had to kill the engine quickly..
4.
- My back is killing me today.
5.
- The coach killed the team for their mistakes.
6.
- Her performance killed the audience.
7.
sportsTECH. US hit a ball with unreturnable forceTECH. US
- She killed the ball in the final set.
Noun
1.
huntingact of causing death, especially in hunting
- The hunter celebrated the kill of the deer.
2.
volleyballTECH. grounding the ball to win a rallyTECH.
- She made a perfect kill to win the match.
3.
militaryTECH. instance of destroying an enemy targetTECH.
- The pilot reported a kill on the enemy jet.
4.
geographyDated US creek or channel of waterDated US
- The boat sailed down the narrow kill.
Images of kill

creek or channel of water
Expressions with kill
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
cause the death of a living being
The hunter killed it with one shot.
express extreme embarrassment or frustration
I forgot my lines on stage, kill me.
eliminate a species or group completely
The disease could kill off the entire bee population.
do things to make time pass while waiting
We played cards to kill time before the movie.
turn off a vehicle's engine
He decided to kill the engine and take a break.
wear clothes that impress people with style or glamour
She will dress to kill at the party tonight.
used to describe a very angry or hostile look
She gave him a look as if looks could kill.
spend time doing something unimportant while waiting
I read a book to kill some time before the meeting.
turn off a light source like a lamp
Please kill that light before you leave the room.
defeat competitors completely
Their new product will kill the competition in the market.
end a hopeful or optimistic situation
The economic crisis killed the dream of a prosperous future for many.
turn off the lights
Please kill the lights before you leave the room.
stop or reduce the noise
Please kill the noise by turning off the radio.
solve two problems with one single action
She killed two birds with one stone by shopping and visiting her friend.
cause harm by being overly kind to someone
She will kill with kindness if you let her.
make someone laugh a lot
The comedian killed with laughter during his performance.
extra time available before an event
We arrived early and had time to kill before the concert started.
expresses annoyance at someone's inaction
Would it kill John to help with the dishes?
pay system where earnings depend on money each worker brings in
The firm uses an eat what you kill model for its brokers.
to punish the person who delivers bad news
He was tempted to kill the messenger when he heard the unfortunate news..
reveal information that was kept secret
He killed the suspense by announcing the winner early.
act aggressively to ensure success
The team went for the kill in the last quarter.
ready to defeat or destroy something
The team was in for the kill during the final match.
take one's own life intentionally
After months of despair, she tried to kill herself.
Origin of kill
Old English, cwellan (to kill)
Terms with kill included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
animal
search for animals to kill for food or sport
animal
kill animals for food consumption
chemical
substance used to kill rats and rodents
assassination
order to kill someone for money
execute
kill by tying a rope around neck and dropping
crime
illegally kill someone with intent and premeditation
harm
give a harmful substance to kill or harm
animal hunting
hunt and kill other animals for food
massacre
kill people in large numbers brutally
medical
substance used on skin to kill or stop germs
political murder
kill someone for political or religious reasons
insecticide
chemical used to kill insects
brutal killing
kill people in a brutal way
medical
chemical treatment to kill cancer cells
crime
kill someone on purpose in a way that is illegal
danger
warning of intent to kill someone
violence
kill or cause to die
crime
harmful acts using firearms that injure or kill people or damage property
contract killer
man hired to kill someone for money
threaten someone
say or write that you will kill someone
heated milk
milk treated by heating to kill harmful bacteria
bug killer
chemical used to kill pests like insects and rodents
intentional harm
the act of giving poison to harm or kill
hunting
hunt and kill for food
Examples of kill in a sentence
Pollution can kill marine life. The storm killed the power in the entire city. They decided to kill the old software system. The technician had to kill the power to the server. She decided to kill the lights before leaving. These shoes are killing my feet.
The loud noise is killing my ears. The manager killed the employee for the error. Critics killed the movie for its poor plot. The movie's ending killed the viewers. His speech killed everyone with laughter. He managed to kill the ball with a powerful serve. The player killed the ball, winning the match. The lioness shared the kill with her cubs. The documentary showed the eagle's kill in slow motion. Her kill secured the team's victory. The final kill was a game-changer. The soldier celebrated his first kill in the mission. A confirmed kill was reported by the ground forces. The kill was teeming with fish this season. They built a bridge over the kill for easy access.
View all translations of kill
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:tuer, abattage, ...
- German:töten, Abschuss, ...
- Italian:uccidere, uccisione, ...
- Spanish:matar, captura, ...
- Portuguese:matar, abate, ...
- Chinese:杀死, 击杀, ...
- Japanese:殺す, 獲物, ...
- Arabic:قَتَلَ, فَرِيسَة, ...
- Hebrew:לַהֲרוֹג, הֶרֶג, ...
- Russian:убивать, убийство, ...
- Ukrainian:вбивати, вбивство, ...
- Hindi:मारना, शिकार, ...
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