kicks in

verb

present tense third-person singular of kick in
1
as in contributes
to make a donation as part of a group effort if everyone in the department kicks in, we can give him an especially nice present for his retirement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in dies
slang to stop living the ornery cuss finally kicked in at the ripe old age of 90

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of kicks in Last summer, the Nuggets signed Christian Braun to a five-year extension, which kicks in for 2026-27. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 July 2026 Paramount had planned to close the transaction prior to a deadline of September 30, at which point a ticking clock fee kicks in requiring Paramount to pay shareholders an additional fee each quarter the transaction does not close. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 July 2026 That intergalactic theme kicks in with the opening narration, which addresses fellow travelers with terms such as energy portal, chronos and power of stars. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2026 Another cost comes from the rabies immunoglobulin, which is administered to help the immune system fight the virus until the vaccine kicks in. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 Individuals on certain low-tier or bronze plans could have to pay up to $15,600 out-of-pocket for individual coverage or $31,200 per family before insurance kicks in. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 If Paramount doesn’t secure all the necessary approvals by the end of September, a deal-sweetener kicks in, adding 25 cents per WBD share per quarter to the cost of the deal until it is approved. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Beyond that, our team has tested many of these deals, including a curling iron that creates effortless waves, a compact yet powerful stand mixer, and an oscillating indoor/outdoor fan that’s perfect for keeping the backyard patio cool when the summer heat kicks in. — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 22 June 2026 In other words, the fear of leaking personal data kicks in only when someone is facing the real decision of whether to hand off their device to a recycler or secondhand buyer. — Eric Williams, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicks in
  1. contributes
  2. dies
  3. falls
  4. kicks off
Verb
  • Emerging political group challenges the ‘Charlotte Way’ Charlotte’s airport contributes nearly $40 billion annually to the economies of North and South Carolina, according to the city.
    — DJ Simmons July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
  • This keeps these flavorful pieces from burning while the pasta cooks and contributes another layer of flavor to the sauce.
    — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 26 July 2026
Definition of contributes
Verb
  • First, when someone dies without a will, their property passes to heirs in accordance with their state’s laws.
    — Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 29 July 2026
  • The general rule is that when an IRA beneficiary is an entity instead of an individual, the IRA must be distributed fully within five years after the original owner dies.
    — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of dies
Verb
  • This unique trend sees AI adoption rise while trust falls, fueling widespread demand for accountability and human oversight.
    — Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • As several experts have told CNN, when a drug trafficking leader falls, there are always many others available to succeed him, so the criminal organization – at least for now – remains active.
    — Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of falls
Verb
  • The venture began last year in America and the group has spent much of 2026 moving through South America, Central America and the United Kingdom before another round of domestic shows kicks off.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • The official closing ceremony will be headlined by Post Malone, 90 minutes before the final kicks off.
    — Jack Cosbie, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2026
Definition of kicks off

Browse Nearby Words

kickshaws
kicks in
kicks off
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Cite this Entry

“Kicks in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicks%20in. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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