What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
kick
Example
He kicked the ball hard and scored a goal. [kick: verb]
Example
She loves to kick her legs while swimming. [kick: verb]
Example
I got a kick out of that joke. [kick: noun]
punt
Example
The team decided to punt on fourth down. [punt: verb]
Example
We rented a punt and went punting on the river. [punting: gerund or present participle]
Example
The manager decided to punt on the issue and let the higher-ups handle it. [punt: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Kick is a more common word than punt and is used in a wider range of contexts. Punt is mainly used in sports and may not be familiar to people who are not fans of football or rugby.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between kick and punt?
Both kick and punt are informal words that can be used in casual conversations. However, punt may be considered more formal due to its association with sports jargon and technical terminology.