kill
kill — verb
1. to make a living creature die, whether you do it on purpose or by mistake
to make a living creature die, whether you do it on purpose or by mistake
The farmer killed the chicken for the family dinner.
kill + object + for [purpose/meal]
Smoking kills thousands of people in Taiwan every year.
intransitive use: smoking/cigarettes + kills
A speeding car killed the dog that ran into the street.
The virus killed nearly two million people before the vaccine arrived.
collocation: kill + millions/thousands of people
- kill a/an/the + animal/person
- be killed by
- kill with a weapon
- kill instantly
- kill on purpose
Grammar Patterns
kill + object
kill + object + with [tool/weapon]
intransitive: [cause] + kills
Usage Note
Usually transitive in active voice, but also common intransitively when the subject is a cause of death (e.g. Smoking kills, Pollution kills).
Common Mistakes
2. to stop something from continuing, or to spoil something completely so that it n
to stop something from continuing, or to spoil something completely so that it no longer exists or has any value
The argument over the money killed their twenty-year friendship.
collocation: kill + friendship/relationship
The rain killed our plans for a picnic in the park.
The new rules killed any hope of finishing the project on time.
collocation: kill + hope/ambition/dream
Lara's constant complaining killed the joyful mood at the party.
- kill a friendship
- kill the mood
- kill a plan
- kill hope
- kill someone's spirit
Grammar Patterns
kill + abstract object (relationship/plan/mood/hope)
Usage Note
The object is typically an abstract noun — relationship, plan, hope, mood, or spirit. This sense is not used for physically destroying objects (use 'break' or 'destroy' instead).
Common Mistakes
3. to finish the liquid inside a bottle, glass, or other container completely, ofte
to finish the liquid inside a bottle, glass, or other container completely, often in a short time
Christopher killed the bottle of water in just a few seconds.
collocation: kill + bottle of [drink]
After the race, Tuan killed two bottles of sports drink.
After a long run in the park, Yumi killed a whole bottle of water in under a minute.
context: after exercise → drink quickly + finish container
Élise killed her glass of orange juice before the toast began.
collocation: kill a glass of [drink]
- kill a bottle
- kill a glass of
- kill a can of
Grammar Patterns
kill + container of drink (bottle/glass/can)
Usage Note
Informal and often carries a sense of speed or enthusiasm. Refers to finishing the contents of a container (bottle, glass, can) rather than just drinking liquid generally. Not used for sipping.
Common Mistakes
4. to make someone feel so tired that they almost cannot move or keep going
to make someone feel so tired that they almost cannot move or keep going
The twelve-hour shift at the hospital killed Lara completely.
collocation: shift/job/work + kills [someone]
Climbing that mountain killed us, but the view was beautiful.
The long walk under the hot sun killed the old dog.
collocation: [activity] + kills + [person/animal]
Training for the marathon every morning was killing Mert slowly.
- this job kills me
- the heat kills
- the walk killed us
- kills me completely
Grammar Patterns
kill + person/animal (as object)
Usage Note
Always transitive; the object is the person or animal that becomes exhausted. Common in informal speech in phrases like 'This hike is killing me.' Very similar to sense 5 (cause pain), so look at context — if the result is wanting to rest rather than being in pain, this sense applies.
Common Mistakes
5. to cause someone to feel very sharp or intense physical pain, usually in a parti
to cause someone to feel very sharp or intense physical pain, usually in a particular part of the body
My new shoes are killing my feet after walking all day.
progressive: [body part] + is killing + [person]
Amira's back was killing her after carrying boxes all morning.
The toothache was killing Nellie, so she went to see a dentist.
collocation: [pain] + is/was killing + [person]
These new boots are killing Gita's heels on the long walk to school.
- my back/head/neck/feet are killing me
- the pain is killing me
- these shoes are killing me
Grammar Patterns
kill + object (body part/person)
progressive: [body part] is/was killing [person]
Usage Note
Almost always used in the continuous or progressive aspect: 'My back is killing me' or 'The pain was killing her.' Rarely used in simple past to describe pain ('The pain killed me' sounds like literal death). Distinguish from sense 4: this sense is about pain, not tiredness.
Common Mistakes
6. to say in a joking way that someone will be extremely angry if they find out tha
to say in a joking way that someone will be extremely angry if they find out that you have done something wrong
My mom will kill me if I come home after midnight.
will kill [person] + if [condition]
Jason's dad will kill him for scratching the new car.
The coach will kill the players if they miss the game tomorrow.
Yara will kill me if she finds out I borrowed her dress without asking.
will kill + object + if [condition discovered]
- will kill me if
- would kill me if
- will kill me for
- would kill me for
- be furious
more formal and literal; does not have the humorous exaggeration
- go crazy
similar informal register and exaggeration effect
Grammar Patterns
will kill + person + if/for + [reason]
would kill + person + if/for + [reason]
Usage Note
Always in the future tense ('will kill') or conditional ('would kill'). The speaker is exaggerating for effect — literal death is not intended. Common in informal, emotional speech. Rarely used in past tense.
Common Mistakes
7. to be so funny that someone laughs very hard, often used to talk about a perform
to be so funny that someone laughs very hard, often used to talk about a performance, joke, or story that makes a large group of people laugh loudly.
Yuki killed the audience with her stand-up jokes last night.
kill + audience — causing laughter in a group
The expression on the dog's face absolutely killed me.
Christopher's impression of the head teacher killed the whole class.
kill + the whole class — informal collective laughter
The comedian's impression of the president killed the crowd at the club.
- kill + an audience
- kill + the crowd
- kill + the class
- absolutely kill
- nearly kill
- bore
opposite effect — making people tired instead of amused
Grammar Patterns
kill + someone (audience/class/crowd)
Usage Note
Often appears with 'absolutely' for emphasis ('it absolutely killed me'). Past tense 'killed' and continuous 'killing' are the most frequent forms. The subject is always the funny thing or person, not the person laughing.
Common Mistakes
8. to laugh very hard and for a long time using the phrase 'kill yourself laughing'
to laugh very hard and for a long time using the phrase 'kill yourself laughing', where the focus is on your own laughter rather than on making others laugh.
Nkechi killed herself laughing at the cat's silly dance.
reflexive: kill + yourself + laughing
We killed ourselves laughing when the cake fell off the table onto his lap.
The children nearly killed themselves laughing at the clown's magic tricks.
nearly kill + yourself — emphasizing extreme laughter
Ada killed herself laughing when she saw her brother's Halloween costume.
- kill + yourself + laughing
- kill + yourself + with laughter
- nearly kill + yourself
- absolutely kill + yourself
- die laughing
same meaning and register; 'I almost died laughing'
- crack up
intransitive, e.g. 'I cracked up when I saw his face'
Grammar Patterns
kill + yourself + laughing / with laughter
Usage Note
Always requires a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, herself, himself, ourselves, themselves). 'Kill yourself laughing' is the fixed formula; 'die laughing' is an alternative with the same meaning.
Common Mistakes
9. to fill a period when you have nothing urgent to do by occupying yourself with a
to fill a period when you have nothing urgent to do by occupying yourself with a simple activity, just so the waiting does not feel so long.
Caleb killed time by playing games on his phone while waiting for the train.
kill time + by + -ing
We killed an hour at the café before the cinema opened for the evening show.
kill + [specific time period]
Folake killed time in the waiting room by reading old magazines from the table.
The children killed the afternoon playing cards on the porch while their parents packed the car.
kill + [the afternoon] + playing [activity]
- kill time
- kill an hour
- kill the afternoon
- kill a couple of hours
- kill some time
- pass the time
more neutral; does not imply the activity is unimportant
- while away
more literary; suggests a pleasant, relaxed way of spending time
Grammar Patterns
kill + [time / an hour / an afternoon / some time]
kill time + [by + -ing / with + noun]
Usage Note
The object of this sense is always a period of time (time, an hour, the afternoon). You cannot say 'kill a book' or 'kill a game' to mean you are spending time on them. The activities used to kill time are usually simple and not very meaningful — this gives the phrase a slightly negative or bored tone compared to 'spend time'.
Common Mistakes
10. to turn off a light, engine, or machine; to make a computer application or a com
to turn off a light, engine, or machine; to make a computer application or a computing task stop running, particularly when it is frozen or causing trouble.
The programme froze, so Yuki had to kill the process and restart her computer.
kill + process (computing context)
Christopher killed the engine and got out to check what the strange noise was.
kill + engine (vehicle context)
Antonia killed the headlights before pulling into the garage to save the battery.
Yan killed the engine and listened carefully for any sign of trouble.
kill the engine + listening for trouble
- kill the engine
- kill the lights
- kill the motor
- kill a process
- kill a program
- kill an application
Grammar Patterns
kill + [engine / motor / lights / program / process]
Usage Note
In computing, 'kill' often means to forcefully stop a program that is not responding. On a car or machine, 'kill' is more informal than 'turn off' or 'switch off', and it often suggests a quick or abrupt action.
Common Mistakes
11. to decide that a news story, article, photograph, or television programme should
to decide that a news story, article, photograph, or television programme should not be published or broadcast, especially because of pressure from people in power.
The newspaper editor killed the story about the factory's safety problems just before it went to print.
kill + story + just before going to print
The network killed the documentary after the government complained about its content.
kill + documentary + passive implications
Reema was furious when her editor killed her report on working conditions in the warehouse.
Dewi's photograph of the protest was killed by the magazine's legal team.
passive: was killed + by [legal/power agent]
- kill a story
- kill a report
- kill an article
- kill a documentary
- kill a photograph
Grammar Patterns
kill + [story / report / article]
be killed + by [person / organization]
Usage Note
This sense is used mainly in journalism and publishing. The decision to kill a story is often about avoiding legal trouble, political pressure, or embarrassment to the publisher. It is stronger than simply 'not publishing' — it implies an active decision to stop something that was already planned.
12. to defeat a proposed law, official plan, or political motion so that it cannot b
to defeat a proposed law, official plan, or political motion so that it cannot be passed or put into effect.
The opposition party killed the bill by refusing to bring it to a vote.
kill + bill + by refusing to bring to vote
The senator's amendment was killed in committee by a vote of eight to five.
passive: be killed in committee
Femi threatened to kill the housing proposal if the environmental rules were removed from it.
Gabriel's motion to reduce the budget was killed after only three members voted in favour.
passive: motion was killed + after [vote result]
- kill a bill
- kill a proposal
- kill a motion
- kill an amendment
- kill legislation
Grammar Patterns
kill + [bill / proposal / motion / amendment]
be killed + by [committee / vote / opposition]
Usage Note
This sense is used in formal political and legal contexts. 'Kill' here is stronger than 'defeat' — it implies the proposal is finished and unlikely to be brought back. The subject is usually a person, group, or institution with the power to block legislation.
13. to prevent the opposing team from scoring a goal in ice hockey while one of your
to prevent the opposing team from scoring a goal in ice hockey while one of your players is in the penalty box and your team has fewer skaters on the ice.
The Buffalo Sabres killed the penalty with solid defensive play and good goaltending.
sports term: kill + a penalty (ice hockey)
Trang's team killed three power plays in the final period to hold onto their lead.
The goalkeeper made two saves to help kill the penalty late in the game.
kill + a penalty with teammate assistance
The Toronto Maple Leafs killed a five-on-three penalty for two full minutes.
- kill + a penalty
- kill + a power play
- kill + two minutes
- kill + the penalty successfully
- concede
to allow a goal during a penalty kill; 'conceded on the power play'
Grammar Patterns
kill + a penalty
kill + a power play
Usage Note
Exclusive to ice hockey. The noun form 'penalty kill' (countable) is equally common. The opposite situation — when the opposing team has a player advantage — is called a 'power play'.
Common Mistakes
14. in rugby, to illegally stop the ball from being played by covering it with your
in rugby, to illegally stop the ball from being played by covering it with your body or holding onto it on the ground, usually to prevent the opposition from continuing their attack.
Tamás went to the sin bin for killing the ball near the try line.
rugby offence: kill + the ball
The referee blew the whistle when the player killed the ball at the ruck.
Killing the ball in rugby usually results in a penalty kick for the other team.
kill + the ball → penalty consequence
The number eight was penalised for killing the ball after the tackle.
- kill + the ball
- kill + the ball + at the ruck
- kill + the ball + near the line
Grammar Patterns
kill + the ball
Usage Note
Almost always called as a penalty by the referee. Can lead to a yellow card ('sin bin') if the offence is repeated or intentional. The term is specific to rugby union and rugby league.
15. in football, to bring a moving ball under control by trapping it with your foot,
in football, to bring a moving ball under control by trapping it with your foot, chest, or thigh, usually as the first touch after receiving a pass or a high ball.
Rania killed the high ball with her chest and then volleyed it into the net.
soccer: kill + the ball with chest
The striker killed the ball with one touch and fired a shot past the goalkeeper.
Camila killed the ball perfectly on her left foot and passed to an open teammate.
kill + the ball + body part used
Lucas killed a long pass from the defender and set up a chance to score.
- kill + the ball
- kill + a high ball
- kill + the ball + with + foot/chest/thigh
- kill + the ball + on + left/right foot
Grammar Patterns
kill + the ball (with foot/chest/thigh)
Usage Note
Common in British football commentary and coaching. 'Trap' is used more often in American English. The phrase 'kill the ball' emphasizes bringing a fast-moving or high ball to a complete stop with precision.
Common Mistakes
16. in tennis, badminton, volleyball, and similar games, to hit the ball or shuttlec
in tennis, badminton, volleyball, and similar games, to hit the ball or shuttlecock so powerfully or precisely that the opponent has no chance to return it and you win the point.
Élise killed the ball with a powerful smash that landed just inside the line.
racket sports: kill + the ball (smash)
Ayesha killed the shuttlecock with a sharp drop shot at the net.
The volleyball player killed the ball with a hard spike for the winning point.
volleyball: kill + the ball (spike for point)
Yuki killed the ball with a backhand winner down the line.
- kill + the ball
- kill + the shuttlecock
- kill + a shot
- kill + the ball + at the net
- kill + the ball + for a point
Grammar Patterns
kill + the ball (with a smash/spike/drop shot)
Usage Note
In volleyball, 'kill' is an official statistic counting any attack that results in a point directly. In tennis and badminton, the term describes an aggressive shot that the opponent has no chance to return.
Common Mistakes
kill off
phrasal verbThis means to cause the death of many living things, or to end something completely.
The cold weather killed off most of the garden plants.
The author killed off the main character in the final chapter.
This phrase warns that asking too many questions can lead to trouble.
Don't ask about his past; curiosity killed the cat.
Maya reminded herself that curiosity killed the cat and stopped digging.
dressed to kill
idiomThis means wearing very attractive or fashionable clothes to impress others.
Sara arrived at the party dressed to kill in a red dress.
Brian was dressed to kill for his job interview at the bank.
This means having extra free time with nothing important to do.
After finishing her exam early, Lisa had time to kill.
Diego had time on his hands, so he read a book.
if looks could kill…
idiomThis describes a very angry or hostile look from someone.
When Min spilled coffee on her dress, if looks could kill, he would be dead.
The teacher glared at the noisy students; if looks could kill, they'd be gone.
This means to destroy a reliable source of income or success by being greedy or foolish.
The company raised prices so much that they killed the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Aiden refused to overwork his best employee, knowing it would kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
kill it
idiomThis means to perform exceptionally well or succeed impressively at something.
Maya killed it in her piano recital last night.
The team killed it on the field and won the championship.
kill or cure
idiomThis describes an action that will either solve a problem completely or make it much worse.
The risky surgery was a kill or cure for the patient.
Diego decided to invest all his savings; it was kill or cure.
This means to do something unimportant while waiting for something else.
Sara killed time by browsing the internet at the airport.
Brian killed an hour playing video games before the meeting.
This means to achieve two goals with a single action.
By walking to work, Min killed two birds with one stone: exercise and commuting.
Lisa studied while waiting for the bus, killing two birds with one stone.
This means to harm someone by being excessively kind or helpful.
Maya killed her puppy with kindness by feeding it too many treats.
The grandparents killed the children with kindness, spoiling them rotten.
This means to laugh very hard and for a long time.
The comedian's joke made the audience kill themselves laughing.
Sara killed herself laughing at the funny movie.
kill — noun
1. an animal that is caught and killed by a hunter or a wild animal during a hunt;
an animal that is caught and killed by a hunter or a wild animal during a hunt; also used to refer to the moment or act of killing that animal
The lioness dragged her kill into the long grass to feed the cubs.
countable noun: a physical kill (carcass)
The pack of wolves moved in for the kill after surrounding the injured deer.
idiomatic phrase: 'move in for the kill'
Élise watched the documentary and saw a cheetah make a kill on the open plains.
uncountable: 'make a kill' = the act/event
The hunters examined their kill before carrying it back to the village.
Baraka noticed that the eagle had dropped its kill near the edge of the cliff.
- make a kill
- move in for the kill
- close in for the kill
- drag its kill
- the kill
Grammar Patterns
the + noun
a + noun (countable use = the killed animal)
Usage Note
When countable ('a kill', 'its kill'), the noun refers to the dead animal itself. When uncountable ('make a kill', 'close in for the kill'), it refers to the event or act of killing. The phrase 'close in for the kill' is often used metaphorically in business or competition.
Common Mistakes
2. the successful defence of a goal in ice hockey during a period when one of your
the successful defence of a goal in ice hockey during a period when one of your players is in the penalty box and the other team has an extra skater
Esteban led the team with over three minutes of penalty-kill time in the second period.
compound modifier: 'penalty-kill time'
The goalkeeper made four crucial saves during a two-minute kill in the third period.
countable: 'a two-minute kill'
Kevin's team has the best penalty kill in the league this season.
Meera watched the defence hold strong during a five-on-three kill that lasted forty-five seconds.
specific: 'five-on-three kill' (two players penalised)
- penalty kill
- kill time
- on the kill
- kill unit
- penalty kill
full term; more formal than 'kill' alone
- PK
abbreviation used in game statistics and commentary
Grammar Patterns
(penalty) kill
on the kill
Usage Note
Ice hockey uses 'penalty kill' (often abbreviated 'PK') as a countable noun for a single successful penalty-killing situation, or as an uncountable noun for a team's overall performance in such situations. Frequently modified by numbers ('two-minute kill', 'five-on-three kill'). Not used outside of ice hockey.
Common Mistakes
3. a military vehicle or weapon, such as an enemy plane, ship, tank, or missile, th
a military vehicle or weapon, such as an enemy plane, ship, tank, or missile, that has been destroyed by armed force in combat
The fighter pilot was credited with three confirmed kills during the mission.
collocation: 'confirmed kills'
The radar operator logged a kill on the incoming missile before it reached the base.
Reema read that the tank commander scored a first confirmed kill in the opening battle.
The night report listed twelve enemy kills from the naval bombardment.
- confirmed kill
- first kill
- enemy kill
- kill count
- claim a kill
- credit with a kill
- downing
restricted to aircraft; 'the downing of an enemy plane'
- destruction
more formal and general; lacks the combat-scoring connotation of 'kill'
Grammar Patterns
number + kills
confirmed kill
Usage Note
Primarily used in military reporting, combat simulations, and video games. Often paired with a number ('three kills') or the adjective 'confirmed' (meaning the destruction has been verified). The singular form can refer to a single enemy unit destroyed.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All seven words describe ending life, but each carries distinct legal and emotional weight. 'Murder' is the narrowest — it means intentional, unlawful killing of a person, and is strictly a legal term. 'Assassinate' is even more specific: it refers to killing a prominent figure (a leader, politician, or celebrity) for political reasons. 'Execute' means to kill as a legal punishment following a court decision; it is formal and carries no connotation of wrongdoing by the person carrying it out. 'Slay' is older and more literary or dramatic (slay a dragon, slay an enemy in battle) and is never used in legal or journalistic contexts. 'Destroy' covers both living and non-living things ('the bomb destroyed the building'), so it is vaguer when applied to humans, though it can describe overwhelming force. 'Massacre' implies killing many people at once, usually helpless victims, with strong disapproval. 'Eliminate' is a euphemistic verb used in military or intelligence settings to mean killing a specific target without saying so directly ('the threat was eliminated'). For everyday or neutral descriptions of causing death, 'kill' is the default — it carries no extra judgment about legality or method. Example: 'The farmer killed the chicken for dinner' could not be replaced by 'murder', 'execute', or 'massacre' without changing the meaning completely.
Common collocations
Adverbs
- deliberately
- brutally
- instantly
- accidentally
- cruelly
- systematically
Phrases
Etymology
Kill comes from Old English 'cwellan', meaning to murder or cause to die, which itself traces back to Proto-Germanic *kwaljaną (to torment, make to die). A related Old English word 'cwelan' meant 'to die'. The original meaning was narrower and more violent; over time, it expanded into figurative uses (kill a plan, kill time, kill an engine) that began appearing from the 17th century onward. The noun senses (a hunted animal, a military score) developed from the verb in the 18th–19th centuries. Though it sounds similar, kill is NOT related to 'quell' (which comes from Old English 'cwellan' meaning 'to strike down') — the resemblance is coincidental, though the two words have sometimes influenced each other.