kick in

verb

kicked in; kicking in; kicks in
Synonyms of kick innext

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.
The answers to these questions have been elusive, so much so that a state law that kicked in last year requires cities to report deals to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026 Meanwhile, high-deductible insurance plans have become more common, requiring patients to pay thousands of dollars before coverage fully kicks in. Deidre Popovich, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026 The tax change was approved in March 2021 and is set to kick in next January. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026 The keg aspect kicks in with a craft beer festival for all attendees, which is why this event is only available for guests ages 21 and up. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Kick in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick%20in. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

kick in

verb
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