a football game in which two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into the opponents' goal
"The entire neighborhood gathered on the grass field to watch the intense soccer match between the local rivals."
association football
"The local team celebrated after scoring a goal during their soccer match against the neighboring rivals."
In plain English: Soccer is a popular team sport where players kick a ball into the opponent's goal to score points.
"The children played soccer in the park on a sunny afternoon."
To kick the football directly off the ground, without using one's hands.
"The striker nodded to his teammates before he kicked the ball directly off the grass instead of heading it."
In plain English: To play soccer as a verb means to kick a ball around with your feet while trying to score goals.
"The coach told the players to soccer the ball across the field to practice their passing."
Usage: Use this verb specifically when describing an action where someone kicks a ball from the ground rather than heading or volleying it. Avoid confusing it with general kicking terms that might imply contact at any height.
The word "soccer" originated in British English as an abbreviation for association football, formed by adding the suffix "-er" to "assoc." While earlier variations like "socker" appeared in 1885, the term was first attested in 1888. It was coined alongside similar slang terms from that era, such as "rugger" for rugby football.