kick in

verb

kicked in; kicking in; kicks in

intransitive verb

1
: to begin operating or having an effect : get started
waiting for the heater to kick in
2
: to make a contribution
3
slang : die

Examples of kick in in a Sentence

if everyone in the department kicks in, we can give him an especially nice present for his retirement the ornery cuss finally kicked in at the ripe old age of 90
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But again, within minutes, the urge for more coke kicked in. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 7 June 2025 The Bears had hoped to persuade Pritzker to kick in as much as $2.4 billion in taxpayer money to build a new stadium south of Soldier Field. David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025 When a delivery driver spotted something amiss on her route, her patriotic passion kicked in immediately. Ronnie Li, USA Today, 5 June 2025 Under the bill’s current text, these work requirements won’t kick in until 2026. Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for kick in

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of kick in was in 1906

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kick in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick%20in. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

kick in

verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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