DockerCLI/docs/reference/commandline/kill.md

---
title: "kill"
description: "The kill command description and usage"
keywords: "container, kill, signal"
---

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# kill

```markdown
Usage:  docker kill [OPTIONS] CONTAINER [CONTAINER...]

Kill one or more running containers

Options:
      --help            Print usage
  -s, --signal string   Signal to send to the container (default "KILL")
```

## Description

The main process inside the container will be sent `SIGKILL`, or any
signal specified with option `--signal`.

> **Note**: `ENTRYPOINT` and `CMD` in the *shell* form run as a subcommand of
> `/bin/sh -c`, which does not pass signals. This means that the executable is
> not the container’s PID 1 and does not receive Unix signals.