kick in

kicked in; kicking in; kicks in

Definition of kick in

transitive verb

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

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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 One of the officers tried to back away, but was kicked in the nose, according to the complaint. — Jeff Rumage, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "An intoxicated Port Washington woman kicked a police officer in the nose, complaint says," 28 Jan. 2020 The government subsidizes debt, colleges raise their prices, students are told to get more degrees, credential inflation kicks in, and taxpayers eat the losses. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Elizabeth Warren Meets an Irate Dad," 25 Jan. 2020 No one came forward, which meant protocol kicked in: At 12:57 a.m., the GBI agent reported the suspicious package. — Adam Carlson, PEOPLE.com, "'88 Days of Hell': The True Story of the Atlanta Olympic Bombing and the Wrongfully Suspected Hero at the Center," 1 Jan. 2020 The city will supply about $7 million in bond money and the state will kick in almost $1.5 million. — Bruce Selcraig, ExpressNews.com, "After 75 years, one of San Antonio’s weirdest intersections will get a makeover," 25 Dec. 2019 The police have responded by beating people up, kicking in doors, shutting down the Internet, arresting scores, and in one incident charging into a crowd and setting off a stampede that crushed a 9-year-old boy who was out riding his red bicycle. — Hari Kumar, BostonGlobe.com, "As protests flare in India, Modi plays a new position: defense," 24 Dec. 2019 The police have responded by beating people up, kicking in doors, shutting down the internet, arresting scores, and in one incident charging into a crowd and setting off a stampede that crushed a 9-year-old boy who was out riding his red bicycle. — New York Times, "As Protests Flare in India, Modi Plays a New Position: Defense," 24 Dec. 2019 Other streaming options include: Sling TV—First-time users get a seven-day free preview before the monthly fees, which range $25 to $40, kick in. — Fortune, "Democratic Debate: How to Watch, Start Time—and 5 Key Things to Watch for During It," 20 Nov. 2019 As summer wanes and fall’s crisper winds usher us toward winter each year, seasonal affective Disorder (SAD) kicks in for millions of people. — Claudia Fisher, Health.com, "This Is the Light Therapy Lamp Amazon Shoppers Swear By to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder," 12 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kick in.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

5 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Kick in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick%20in. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.

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