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.
Air travelers came and went mostly without trouble at Denver International Airport on Friday, expressing gratitude for federal air traffic controllers working without pay, ready to adapt as flight reductions ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration kicked in. Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025 Long delays are already kicking in at New York-area airports. Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025 Illustration by Simone Noronha Every year, around early November, daylight-saving time kicks in—and my serotonin suddenly goes into hibernation. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025 The increases would then likely kick in around November 2026. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 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 10 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

kick in

verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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