killed; killing; kills
1
a
: to deprive of life : cause the death of
a disease that has killed thousands
He threatened to kill them.
b(1)
: to slaughter (an animal) for food
(2)
: to convert a food animal into (a kind of meat) by slaughtering
2
a
: to put an end to
kill competition
a change that could kill our chances for success
c
: to mark for omission
d
: annihilate, destroy
kill an enemy
3
a
: to destroy the vital or essential quality of
killed the pain with drugs
b
: to cause to stop
kill the motor
c
: to check the flow of current through
kill the lights
4
: to make a markedly favorable impression on
she killed the audience
5
: to get through uneventfully
kill time
also
: to get through (the time of a penalty) without being scored on
kill a penalty
6
a
: to cause extreme pain to
My back is killing me.
b
: to tire almost to the point of collapse
has been killing herself to get the project done on time
7
: to hit (a shot) so hard in various games that a return is impossible
killed a backhand down the line
8
: to consume (something, such as a drink) totally
… killed his drink and held out the glass.—
W. L. Gresham
W. L. Greshamkilled two bottles of wine over dinner
1
: to cause the death of a person, animal, or plant
a murderer who may kill again
an herbicide that kills on contact
if looks could kill
2
: to make a markedly favorable impression
was dressed to kill
1
a
: an act or instance of killing
an animal moving in for the kill
b
: a decisive act that conclusively secures something (such as a deal or win)
2
: something killed: such as
a(1)
: an animal shot in a hunt
(2)
: animals killed in a hunt, season, or particular period of time
b
: an enemy unit (such as an airplane or ship) destroyed by military action
c
: a return shot in any of various games (such as badminton, handball, or table tennis) that is too hard for an opponent to handle
often capitalized
Examples of kill in a Sentence
Verb
The disease has killed thousands of people.
Three people were killed in the accident.
a chemical that kills weeds
a disease that can kill
taking drugs to kill the pain
Despite protests, the mayor killed the program.
The committee killed the bill.
This delay has killed our chances of finishing the project on schedule.
She told him to kill the lights.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Firefighters whisper about a gas main as a little girl, Dinah, is carried out of the wreckage—the sole survivor of a blast that killed her mom.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Todd had 15 kills and 20 digs, while also contributing three blocks and two assists and serving one ace.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kill
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The driver of the BMW involved in the crash was also killed.
—Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Firefighters whisper about a gas main as a little girl, Dinah, is carried out of the wreckage—the sole survivor of a blast that killed her mom.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
But what is more remarkable is his role on the penalty kill for the Canadiens.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Todd had 15 kills and 20 digs, while also contributing three blocks and two assists and serving one ace.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kill
Cite this Entry
“Kill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kill
1 of 2 verb1
: to deprive of life : cause the death of
2
a
: to put an end to : ruin
that killed our chances
b
: defeat entry 1 sense 1
the committee killed the bill
c
: to stop the use or functioning of
kill the lights
d
: delete
kill the last line
3
: to cause to pass
just killing time
4
: to use up completely
killed two cartons of milk
kill
2 of 2 noun1
: an act of killing
2
: an animal killed
a lion devouring its kill
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