kick in
verb
kicked in; kicking in; kicks in
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
The self-destruct system kicked in, and Starship blew itself up, according to SpaceX’s commentators, who were narrating the livestream.
—
Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2023
There also are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that can travel a shorter distance on electricity before a hybrid powertrain kicks in.
—Tom Krisher, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2023
Across-the-board cuts to federal programs will kick in at the end of April if Congress does not pass longer-term spending bills by the end of the year.
—Marianna Sotomayor, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2023
During the Battle of the Overpass, in which U.A.W. organizers were savagely beaten by Henry Ford’s private security guards outside an assembly plant in Dearborn, Reuther was kicked in the face and thrown down two flights of stairs.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023
Also in both contracts: The extra residual kicks in when the equivalent of 20 percent or more of a streaming service’s domestic subscribers watch a TV season or movie in the first 90 days of an exhibition year.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
Among the problems, SSRIs and SNRIs may take weeks to kick in.
—Sonya Collins, Fortune Well, 4 Nov. 2023
Enforcement is now expected to kick in early next year — but will start this month for drivers who block bus stops.
—Luz Lazo, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
He was kicked in the head while being restrained, pepper sprayed, punched and struck multiple times with a baton.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2023
See More
Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2023
There also are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that can travel a shorter distance on electricity before a hybrid powertrain kicks in.
—Tom Krisher, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2023
Across-the-board cuts to federal programs will kick in at the end of April if Congress does not pass longer-term spending bills by the end of the year.
—Marianna Sotomayor, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2023
During the Battle of the Overpass, in which U.A.W. organizers were savagely beaten by Henry Ford’s private security guards outside an assembly plant in Dearborn, Reuther was kicked in the face and thrown down two flights of stairs.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023
Also in both contracts: The extra residual kicks in when the equivalent of 20 percent or more of a streaming service’s domestic subscribers watch a TV season or movie in the first 90 days of an exhibition year.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
Among the problems, SSRIs and SNRIs may take weeks to kick in.
—Sonya Collins, Fortune Well, 4 Nov. 2023
Enforcement is now expected to kick in early next year — but will start this month for drivers who block bus stops.
—Luz Lazo, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
He was kicked in the head while being restrained, pepper sprayed, punched and struck multiple times with a baton.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kick in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1906, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near kick in
Cite this Entry
“Kick in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick%20in. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
kick in
verb2
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