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adj C2 Proficient Uncommon

kinetic

kih-NEH-tihk

Kinetic (adj) means relating to or caused by motion. Example: “A moving car has kinetic energy that increases with its speed.”

adj
1
Relating to or caused by motion.
"A moving car has kinetic energy that increases with its speed."
"The sculpture uses wind to create constant kinetic movement."

How to use kinetic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do with movement — most often used in the phrase "kinetic energy," the energy something has because it's moving.

Common pairings
kinetic energy kinetic art kinetic sculpture
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Test yourself on “kinetic” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A moving car has _____ energy that increases with its speed.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek kinetikos, "capable of causing motion," from kinein, "to move."

Origin: Ancient Greek

Related words

Rhymes for kinetic

See all rhymes for kinetic →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kinetic” mean?

The word “kinetic” means relating to or caused by motion. In plain terms, to do with movement — most often used in the phrase "kinetic energy," the energy something has because it's moving.

How do you pronounce “kinetic”?

“Kinetic” is pronounced kih-NEH-tihk (/kɪˈnɛtɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “kinetic” in a sentence?

Here is “kinetic” used in a sentence: “A moving car has kinetic energy that increases with its speed.”

What is another word for “kinetic”?

Words with a similar meaning to “kinetic” include active, animated, dynamic and vigorous.

What is the opposite of “kinetic”?

The opposite of “kinetic” — its antonyms — are static, lazy, logic and sluggish.

What part of speech is “kinetic”?

“Kinetic” is an adjective.

Where does the word “kinetic” come from?

The word “kinetic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek kinetikos, "capable of causing motion," from kinein, "to move.".

Is “kinetic” a common word?

“Kinetic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

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