kinetic

¹

[ki-net-ik, kahy-]

adjective

1. pertaining to motion.

2. caused by motion.

3. characterized by movement.

   Running and dancing are kinetic activities.

-kinetic

²

1. a combining form found on adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -kinesia or -kinesis:

   bradykinetic.

kinetic

/ kaɪ-, kɪˈnɛtɪk /

adjective

1. relating to, characterized by, or caused by motion

Other Word Forms

• kinetically adverb
• nonkinetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kinetic¹

1850–55; < Greek kīnētikós moving, equivalent to kīnē- (verbid stem of kīneîn to move) + -tikos -tic

Origin of kinetic²

< Greek kīnēt ( ós ) ( kineto- ) + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of kinetic¹

C19: from Greek kinētikos, from kinein to move

Example Sentences

But if Pan's story is one of quiet stoicism, James's is more kinetic, more restless.

From BBC

That itself is an energy, a kinetic energy that you can feel when you’re in those concerts.”

From Salon

The film opens with a kinetic montage of Sonny’s dreams.

From Los Angeles Times

For all of Arden’s showman proclivities, his passion for innovative design and kinetic sceneography, he never loses sight of a work’s beating heart.

From Los Angeles Times

Garland’s dystopian vision and Boyle’s kinetic urgency remain perfectly in sync, and the fact that much of the film was reportedly shot using an iPhone 15 promises a frenzied doomscroll realism.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• animated 
• lively 
• peppy 

When To Use

What does -kinetic mean?

The combining form -kinetic is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to movement.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.The form -kinetic comes from Greek kīnēt(ós), meaning “moving,” from the verb kīneîn, “to move.” The Latin cognate of kīneîn is ciēre (stem cit-), meaning “to move, set in motion,” which is the source of words such as cite and resuscitate. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.What are variants of -kinetic?While there are not any variants of -kinetic, it is related to the forms -kinesis and -kinesia, as in telekinesis and hyperkinesia. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles about these two forms.