Explanation at your level:
The word kills is a verb. It means to stop someone or something from living. You use it when you talk about 'he', 'she', or 'it'. Example: 'The cold weather kills the plants.' It is a very strong word, so use it carefully.
In English, kills is the present tense for one person or thing. It can mean to end a life, but we also use it for things that stop working. For example, 'The battery kills the game.' It is a common word in news and stories.
Kills is often used to describe how one thing negatively affects another. Beyond death, it can mean to destroy a project or an idea. You might hear someone say, 'The bad news kills our plans.' It is useful for expressing a total stop or failure.
At this level, you should notice the figurative use of kills. It is frequently used in idioms to express intense emotion. For instance, 'It kills me to see you sad' shows deep empathy. It carries a heavy weight in communication, so consider the tone before using it.
Kills functions as a powerful verb in both academic and literary contexts. It can denote the cessation of biological life or the absolute termination of abstract concepts like 'hope' or 'ambition'. Understanding its nuance helps in writing; it is more direct and impactful than 'ends' or 'stops'.
The usage of kills in C2 English often involves rhetorical force. Writers use it to create a sense of finality or tragedy. It is also common in idiomatic expressions where the literal meaning is entirely lost, such as 'killing a performance' (meaning doing it exceptionally well). Mastering this word requires recognizing its shift from the literal to the metaphorical.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Third-person singular verb.
- Means to end life or stop.
- Used in many idioms.
- Pronounced like 'bills'.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word kills. It is the third-person singular form of the verb to kill. You use it when talking about a single person, animal, or thing that is doing the action right now.
At its core, kills is quite a strong word. It usually means causing death, but we use it in many other ways too. For example, if a cold wind kills your plants, it means they died because of the weather. It is a very versatile, albeit intense, verb.
The word kills comes from the Old English word cwellan, which meant to kill or murder. Over centuries, it evolved through Middle English into the form we use today.
Interestingly, it shares roots with the word quell, which means to suppress or put an end to something. It is fascinating how a word that started as a way to describe violence eventually grew to include figurative meanings like 'killing time' or 'killing a joke'. Language is always changing!
You will see kills used in both serious and casual settings. In a serious context, it might describe a predator or a medical condition. In casual speech, it is often used for emphasis.
Common phrases include 'it kills me', which means something is very funny or very sad. Because it is a strong word, be mindful of where you use it. It is perfectly fine in daily conversation, but avoid using it in very formal writing unless the context is appropriate.
Idioms make English fun! Here are a few: Kill time means to do something while waiting. Dress to kill means to wear very stylish clothes. Kill the mood means to spoil a happy atmosphere.
Also, kill two birds with one stone means solving two problems at once. Finally, if looks could kill describes someone giving a very angry glare. These are all common ways to use the root word in everyday speech.
Grammatically, kills is the present simple tense for 'he', 'she', or 'it'. For example: 'The frost kills the flowers.' The pronunciation is simple: it rhymes with bills, fills, and chills.
The IPA is /kɪlz/. Note that the 's' at the end is voiced, sounding like a 'z'. Make sure you don't add an extra syllable; it is strictly a one-syllable word. Practice saying it clearly to distinguish it from 'kilts'!
Fun Fact
It shares roots with 'quell'.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'i' sound like in 'sit'
Clear 'k' and 'z' sound
Common Errors
- Adding a syllable
- Pronouncing 's' as 's' instead of 'z'
- Muffling the 'l'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Moderate
Moderate
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Subject-Verb Agreement
She kills.
Present Simple Tense
He kills.
Verb Collocations
Kill time.
Examples by Level
The cat kills the mouse.
cat = animal, mouse = animal
Subject-verb agreement
The frost kills the garden.
The virus kills the bacteria.
He kills time by reading.
The loud noise kills the peace.
The heat kills the grass.
She kills the spider.
The lack of rain kills the crops.
The game kills the boredom.
The bad weather kills our picnic plans.
The new law kills the old policy.
The suspense kills me.
The chemicals kill the weeds.
The long wait kills my patience.
The mistake kills his chances.
The joke kills the audience with laughter.
The engine kills the silence.
The scandal kills his political career.
It kills me to say goodbye.
The heavy workload kills his creativity.
The truth kills the rumors.
The sudden change kills the momentum.
The pressure kills his performance.
The cold kills the enthusiasm.
The news kills the party mood.
The revelation kills any hope of reconciliation.
The harsh criticism kills his motivation.
The sudden freeze kills the delicate ecosystem.
The policy effectively kills competition.
The silence kills the tension in the room.
The tragedy kills his spirit.
The new regulation kills the industry.
The irony kills the seriousness of the event.
The sheer scale of the project kills all doubt.
The relentless heat kills the spirit of the city.
The artistic vision kills the conventional norms.
The final act kills the protagonist.
The revelation kills the mystery.
The intense focus kills distractions.
The sudden shift kills the narrative flow.
The truth kills the illusion.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"kill time"
wait for something by doing something else
We played cards to kill time.
casual"dressed to kill"
wearing very impressive clothes
She arrived at the party dressed to kill.
casual"if looks could kill"
a very angry glare
She looked at him as if looks could kill.
casual"kill the mood"
spoil a happy feeling
His bad news killed the mood.
casual"kill two birds with one stone"
achieve two things at once
I'll pick up the mail and groceries to kill two birds with one stone.
neutral"it kills me"
it makes me very sad or amused
It kills me that I can't go.
casualEasily Confused
N/A
N/A
N/A
Similar sound
Kills is a verb, kilts are skirts
He kills the bug; he wears a kilt.
Rhyme
Chills means cold
It kills the heat; it gives me chills.
Rhyme
Fills means to make full
It kills the germ; it fills the cup.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + kills + object
The frost kills the plant.
Subject + kills + time
He kills time.
It + kills + me
It kills me to wait.
Subject + kills + the + mood
She kills the mood.
Subject + kills + competition
The brand kills the competition.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Use 'kills' only for he/she/it.
Kilts are skirts; kills is a verb.
Kills is often too blunt.
It is a verb, though 'a kill' exists in hunting.
Subject-verb agreement is required.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a clock stopping.
Native Speakers
Use it for emphasis.
Cultural Insight
Avoid in polite company.
Grammar Shortcut
He/she/it + kills.
Say It Right
Rhymes with bills.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use for plural.
Did You Know?
Old English root.
Study Smart
Use flashcards.
Writing Tip
Use synonyms.
Speaking Tip
Watch your tone.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Kills: Keep It Living Less (S).
Visual Association
A clock stopping.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences using 'kills' today.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: to strike or kill
Cultural Context
Can be offensive; use with caution.
Used frequently in sports and media.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Gardening
- kills weeds
- kills pests
- kills growth
Medicine
- kills bacteria
- kills pain
- kills virus
Social
- kills the mood
- kills time
- kills the silence
Business
- kills competition
- kills profit
- kills deals
Conversation Starters
"What kills your mood?"
"How do you kill time?"
"Do you think technology kills conversation?"
"What kills a good party?"
"Does stress kill creativity?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to kill time.
Describe how weather kills plants.
What is something that kills your motivation?
How do you deal with things that kill your mood?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt is a strong word, but not a swear word.
Yes, but be very careful as it is sensitive.
Killed.
Like 'bills' with a 'k'.
Rarely, usually in hunting.
It is neutral.
Waiting.
Yes, like destroy or end.
Test Yourself
The frost ___ the plants.
Subject-verb agreement.
Which means to wait?
Idiom usage.
'Kills' is a noun.
It is a verb.
Word
Meaning
Meaning matching.
Sentence structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Kills is a versatile verb meaning to end something, used both literally and figuratively.
- Third-person singular verb.
- Means to end life or stop.
- Used in many idioms.
- Pronounced like 'bills'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a clock stopping.
Native Speakers
Use it for emphasis.
Cultural Insight
Avoid in polite company.
Grammar Shortcut
He/she/it + kills.
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