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.
But Miller’s renaissance truly kicked in with the 1954 biopic The Glenn Miller Story, starring Jimmy Stewart in the title role. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 2024 Wright had kicked in two games for the Chiefs, nailing 8-9 of his field goal attempts and making both extra point attempts across the two games. Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024 The average family deductible — the amount paid out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in — has increased from $2,500 in 2013 to $3,700 in 2023, according to KFF. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2024 Read: How Russia could maintain a foothold in Syria When Bashar faced an Arab Spring uprising in 2011, the paternal genes kicked in. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024 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

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 26 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

kick in

verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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