kill
kill
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "kill" is /kɪl/.
Here's a breakdown by syllable (in this case, there's only one):
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/l/ - alveolar lateral approximant
Word Form Variations
kill (verb, present tense): He will kill the weeds.
kills (verb, third-person singular present tense): She kills the weeds.
killed (verb, past tense): He killed the weeds.
killing (verb, present participle/gerund): He is killing the weeds. Killing weeds is hard work.
killer (noun, agent noun): He is a weed killer. (Also used more generally to describe someone or something that kills.)
killers (noun, plural): They are weed killers. (Also used more generally to describe multiple entities that kill.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
Definition 1: To deprive of life; to cause the death of a living being.
Synonyms: slay, murder, execute, assassinate, terminate, extinguish, destroy, eradicate.
Antonyms: revive, resurrect, animate, create, give birth to, save, protect, preserve.
Definition 2: To put an end to; to extinguish or suppress (figuratively).
Synonyms: stifle, suppress, extinguish, quash, crush, end, terminate, abolish, negate.
Antonyms: encourage, foster, nurture, promote, develop, cultivate, ignite, initiate.
Definition 3: (In games or sports) To score a point or achieve a successful play.
Synonyms: score, win, achieve, succeed, overcome.
Antonyms: lose, fail, forfeit.
Definition 4: (Informal) To cause extreme physical or mental discomfort or exhaustion.
Synonyms: exhaust, fatigue, wear out, drain, stress, overwhelm.
Antonyms: energize, invigorate, refresh, revitalize, stimulate.
Definition 5: (Informal) To spend (time) in a way that is not particularly useful or productive.
Synonyms: waste, fritter, idle, squander, kill time.
Antonyms: utilize, maximize, invest, employ.
Noun:
Definition 1: The act of killing; the taking of a life.
Synonyms: slaying, murder, homicide, assassination, execution, slaughter, carnage.
Antonyms: preservation, conservation, life, birth, creation.
Definition 2: (In hunting) An animal that has been killed.
Synonyms: prey, quarry, game, catch.
Definition 3: (Figurative) The end or termination of something.
Synonyms: demise, termination, end, conclusion, extinction.
Antonyms: beginning, commencement, inception, start.
Adjective:
Definition 1: (Informal) Extremely impressive or effective. (Often used in slang.)
Synonyms: awesome, amazing, fantastic, excellent, superb, outstanding.
Antonyms: awful, terrible, disappointing, substandard, poor.
Adverb:
(Less common as an adverb, but can be used in some informal contexts)
Definition 1: To an extreme degree; utterly. (Often used in slang.)
Synonyms: completely, totally, absolutely, utterly, entirely.
Antonyms: partially, somewhat, slightly, incompletely.
It's important to note that the informal uses of "kill" as an adjective or adverb are relatively recent and may not be considered standard English by everyone. They are more common in casual conversation and online communication.
Examples of Use
Verb (deprive of life):
"The hunter aimed his rifle and killed the deer." (General public discourse)
"A virus can kill millions of cells in the human body." (Scientific American)
"In Shakespeare's Hamlet, several characters are killed." (Literary analysis)
"The tornado killed dozens of people." (News report - CNN)
Verb (put an end to):
"The company decided to kill the project due to budget constraints." (Business news - Wall Street Journal)
"The politician vowed to kill the proposed legislation." (Political discourse)
"He tried to kill his doubts and move forward." (Fiction - Example: A novel)
"The new update killed my phone's battery life." (Tech review - Example: A blog post)
Verb (score/win/achieve):
"He killed it in his presentation." (Informal conversation)
"She killed the final boss in the video game." (Gaming community - Example: A forum)
Verb (informal - exhaust/overwhelm):
"This workout is killing me!" (Fitness community - Example: Social media post)
"The stress of the job was killing her." (General public discourse)
Verb (informal - waste time):
"I was just killing time waiting for the bus." (General public discourse)
Noun (act of killing):
"The kill was swift and merciful." (Hunting or wildlife documentary)
"The police are investigating the kill." (Crime drama)
"The high number of civilian kills in the war is alarming." (News report - BBC)
Noun (animal killed):
"The lion dragged its kill back to its den." (Nature documentary)
Noun (figurative - the end):
"The kill of the business deal was a major disappointment." (Business news)
Adjective (informal - impressive):
"That performance was killer!" (Music review - Example: A blog post)
"She has a killer sense of style." (Fashion magazine)
Adverb (informal - extremely):
"That party was killer fun!" (Informal conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Kill
“Kill the part of you that stays small just to keep others comfortable.” — Original
“They tried to kill my fire. I became the wildfire instead.” — Original
“The goal isn’t to kill your past — it’s to outgrow it.” — Original
"If you kill me, you will not easily find another like me." (Socrates) - This quote highlights the irreplaceable nature of human life.
“Sometimes, to heal, you have to kill the story you keep telling yourself.” — Original
“Kill your darlings.” — William Faulkner (classic writer advice about editing the things you love too much)
“The moment you stop chasing their approval, you kill their control.” — Original
“Don’t kill your feelings — understand them. They’re messengers, not enemies.” — Original
“Not everything that’s killing you looks dangerous.” — Original
“He didn’t pull the trigger, but silence helped kill the truth.” — Original
Etymology
The word "kill" comes from Old Norse, specifically the word "kelja," which meant "to torment, to trouble." Think of it like causing someone great pain or distress, even to the point of death. This Old Norse word is related to other words in Germanic languages, like the Swedish "källa" (to kill) and the Danish "kilde" (spring, source—the connection here is a bit more abstract and might relate to the "source" of someone's life being taken).
The first known use of "kill" in English (or rather, its ancestor in Old English) was around the year 1000. At that time, it was spelled something like "cwellan" and carried the same basic meaning of depriving of life. It's important to remember that English was a very different language back then, and spellings were not standardized.
So, the journey of "kill" goes something like this:
Old Norse: "kelja" (to torment, trouble)
Old English: "cwellan" (to deprive of life)
Middle English: "kille" (to deprive of life)
Modern English: "kill" (to deprive of life)
Over time, the spelling and pronunciation changed a bit, but the core meaning has remained consistent. It's a word with a long and somewhat dark history, reflecting the harsh realities of life and death throughout human history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Kill
Directly using "kill":
Kill time: To do something to pass time, often something unproductive. "I was just killing time waiting for the bus."
Kill two birds with one stone: To accomplish two things at once. "By combining the meeting with lunch, we killed two birds with one stone."
Kill the messenger: To blame the person who brings bad news. "Don't kill the messenger; I'm just telling you what happened."
Kill off: To eliminate or destroy completely. "The frost killed off all the flowers."
Killjoy: A person who deliberately spoils the enjoyment of others. "Don't be such a killjoy!"
Figurative/Informal uses:
Kill it: (Slang) To perform exceptionally well. "She absolutely killed it in her presentation."
Killer: (Slang) Extremely good or impressive. "That new song is killer!"
Idioms with synonyms (for similar effect):
Put to death: A more formal way of saying "kill." "The condemned prisoner was put to death."
Wipe out: To destroy completely (similar to "kill off"). "The flood wiped out the entire village."
Put an end to: To stop or terminate something. "The company put an end to the project."
Knock dead: (Informal) To impress greatly (similar to "kill it"). "Her performance knocked me dead."
Slay: (Slang) To perform exceptionally well (similar to "kill it"). "She slayed that dance routine!"
Why "kill" idioms are less common:
The word's core meaning is very strong and violent. This makes it less suitable for lighthearted or everyday figurative expressions. While slang has adopted it for some positive meanings, its primary association remains negative, limiting its broader idiomatic use. Many concepts that could use "kill" are instead expressed with gentler or more metaphorical terms.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of kill from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
