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.
New Trump tariffs come into force worldwide US President Donald Trump’s global tariffs kicked in, reshaping international commerce by instituting levies on imports from friend and foe alike. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Ellison kicked in millions for rewrites and reshoots, saving the film and launching a summer blockbuster. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025 From 'Wow' To Data: The Box As A Sensor When someone sees a box or other package come to life in their palm, curiosity kicks in. Anna Belova, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025 When driving on wet and curvy roads, the iX3’s traction controls kick in almost without notice and only at high speeds. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

kick in

verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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