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.
Plus, these are great sales to shop ahead of tariffs kicking in, with several companies planning to raise prices in May. Nena Farrell, Wired News, 22 Apr. 2025 Retail sales jumped sharply last month as people raced to buy stuff ahead of Trump's steep new tariffs kicking in. Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025 As the rot advances and retreats—and the vine’s natural defenses kick in—the grapes’ metabolism changes, reducing acidity and water content while developing savory-enhancing compounds. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 16 Apr. 2025 Finally, and perhaps most interesting from a gameplay-wide perspective, Elder Scrolls Online will also be getting a new subclass feature that kicks in at the soft level cap of 50. David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Kick in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick%20in. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

kick in

verb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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