click
click
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "click" is /klɪk/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in the syllable:
/k/ - a voiceless velar stop
/l/ - an alveolar lateral approximant
/ɪ/ - a near-front near-close unrounded vowel
/k/ - a voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
click (noun, singular): I heard a click.
clicks (noun, plural): The mouse made several clicks.
click (verb, present tense): I click the button.
clicks (verb, present tense, third-person singular): She clicks the link.
clicked (verb, past tense and past participle): I clicked the button yesterday. / The button was clicked.
clicking (verb, present participle and gerund): I am clicking the mouse. / Clicking the mouse can be tiring.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
A sharp, short, often metallic sound: The click of the lock signaled that the door was secure.
Synonyms: snap, tick, clack, tap
Antonyms: rumble, roar, boom, clang
A brief, distinct mechanical or electrical operation, especially of a switch or button: The click of the mouse registered the command.
Synonyms: activation, engagement, press, touch
Antonyms: release, disengagement
A sudden, brief moment of understanding or recognition: Then, with a click, she understood the solution.
Synonyms: realization, epiphany, insight, comprehension
Antonyms: confusion, misunderstanding, ignorance
(Informal) A successful connection or rapport between people: They just didn't have that click.
Synonyms: chemistry, compatibility, rapport, connection
Antonyms: incompatibility, discord, friction, animosity
Verb:
To make a sharp, short sound: The gears clicked as they engaged.
Synonyms: snap, tick, clack, tap
Antonyms: rumble, roar, boom, clang
To press a button or switch, especially on a computer mouse: Click the link to continue.
Synonyms: activate, engage, press, select
Antonyms: release, deactivate, deselect
(Figurative) To suddenly understand or realize something: It finally clicked what he meant.
Synonyms: realize, understand, grasp, comprehend
Antonyms: misunderstand, misconstrue, be confused
(Informal) To get along well with someone: We clicked immediately at the party.
Synonyms: connect, bond, get along, hit it off
Antonyms: clash, disagree, be incompatible
Adjective:
(Rarely used as a standalone adjective, but can be part of a compound adjective)
Click-through: The click-through rate was higher than expected. (Relating to the number of times a link is clicked)
There isn't a common, standalone adjective form of "click" that isn't part of a compound word.
Adverb:
(Not typically used as an adverb)
While "click" isn't generally used as an adverb, you might see it in phrases like "click here," where "click" acts more like an imperative verb.
Examples of Use
Books:
"With a click, the door swung open, revealing a hidden passage." (Fictional example, common trope in mystery/adventure novels)
"The click of the camera shutter captured the fleeting moment." (Descriptive writing, focusing on sensory detail)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Stocks rallied after the Federal Reserve clicked pause on interest rate hikes." (Financial news, using "click" figuratively to indicate a decision) (Hypothetical example, based on common financial reporting)
"Users are more likely to click on articles with compelling headlines." (Online journalism, discussing user engagement) (Hypothetical example, based on common online reporting about internet user behavior.)
"Police are investigating the click of a firearm heard on a 911 call." (News report, referring to an audio recording) (Hypothetical example, based on typical crime reporting.)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The click of the seatbelt buckle signaled the start of the race." (Movie/TV script, adding realism to a scene)
"In online gaming, players click to select their characters and perform actions." (Gaming context, describing user interaction)
"The click track helps musicians maintain a consistent tempo during recording." (Music production, technical term)
"Don't forget to like and click subscribe!" (YouTube/social media, common call to action)
General Public Discourse:
"I heard a strange click coming from the engine." (Everyday conversation, describing a sound)
"We just clicked when we met at the party." (Social interaction, describing a connection with someone)
"The website said 'click here' to learn more." (Instructions on a website, common user interface element)
"I need to get my mouse clicked." (Everyday conversation, referring to a computer device)
"It finally clicked! I understand the instructions now." (Everyday conversation, expressing sudden understanding)
10 Famous Quotes Using Click
"Every click you make online is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in." — Eli Pariser
"It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen — that click when vision meets execution." — Scott Belsky
"There’s a moment when you meet someone, and it just clicks — as if you’ve known them forever." — Sarah Dessen
"One click can spark a revolution, but it can also spread a lie." — Sherry Turkle
"We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media; the question is how well we do it — every click matters." — Erik Qualman
"You can’t just click your heels together three times and expect change; you’ve got to work for it." — Maya Angelou (riffing on The Wizard of Oz)
"The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people’s reality, and one click captures a thousand untold stories." — Susan Sontag
"Sometimes the pieces just click into place, and you realize failure was only practice for this moment." — Oprah Winfrey
"The Internet has turned what used to be a message into a menu, where one click changes the whole experience." — Marshall McLuhan (adapted from media theory)
"When it clicks, it clicks — you don’t have to force art, love, or destiny." — Paulo Coelho
Etymology
The word "click" is what linguists call onomatopoeic, meaning it originated from the sound it represents. It's basically an imitation of a sharp, short sound. Think of it like "bang" or "pop."
It's hard to pinpoint the very first time someone used "click" because, as a sound, it probably existed long before it was written down. However, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) notes its earliest known use in written form was in the early 1600s, around 1619. In those early days, it primarily referred to the sharp, snapping sound itself, like the click of a lock or a trigger.
Over time, the meaning broadened. It wasn't just the sound anymore, but also the action that caused the sound, like clicking a latch shut. Then, as technology developed, it became associated with the specific action of pressing a button, especially on devices like cameras and, later, computer mice. The figurative meanings, like "things clicking into place" (meaning understanding something) or "clicking with someone" (meaning getting along well), developed even later, building on the idea of a satisfying, precise connection.
So, in short, "click" started as a simple imitation of a sound, and its meaning gradually expanded to include the actions and even the feelings associated with that sound. It's a great example of how language evolves from concrete, sensory experiences to more abstract concepts.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Click
Common Phrases (not strictly idioms, but frequent collocations):
Click here: A ubiquitous instruction on websites.
Click on: Used to describe the action of pressing a button or link.
Click through: To navigate by clicking on links.
Click track: A musical term for a metronome used in recording.
Phrases with a more figurative sense:
Things clicked into place: Meaning someone suddenly understood something.
It clicked: A shorter version of the above.
They just clicked: Meaning two people got along well.
Click with someone: Similar to the above, implying rapport.
Why few "click" idioms?
The word "click" is often very literal. It describes a specific sound and action. Idioms tend to develop around words with broader, more metaphorical potential. For example, "run" can mean physically running, but also running a business, running out of time, etc. "Click" is more constrained in its core meaning.
Creating some examples (since established idioms are limited):
"My patience clicked": Meaning someone reached their limit. (Analogous to "my patience snapped")
"He was clicking on all cylinders": Meaning someone was performing exceptionally well. (Analogous to "firing on all cylinders")
"A click of inspiration": Meaning a sudden burst of creativity.
"The clock clicked down": Meaning time was running out. (Analogous to "the clock ticked down")
Using Synonyms for Idiomatic Effect:
Since "click" is often about connection or understanding, we can use synonyms to create or adapt idioms:
Instead of "They clicked," you could say "They connected instantly."
Instead of "It clicked," you could say "The lightbulb went on."
Instead of "Click with someone," you could say "Find your groove with someone."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of click from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
