kick in
Third Person
kicks in
Present Participle
kicking in
Past Tense
kicked in
Past Participle
kicked in
1
to forcefully open or break through something, often a door or barrier
- The firefighters had to kick in the door to rescue the trapped residents.
- When he couldn't find his keys, he had to kick in the garage door to get inside.
- The police had to kick in the gate to access the backyard where the suspect was hiding.
- To get to the fire extinguisher, she had to kick in the glass case.
Synonyms:
2
to start to have an impact
- The medication usually takes about 30 minutes to kick in and alleviate the pain.
- When the engine is running smoothly, the turbocharger will kick in, providing extra power.
- When the adrenaline kicked in, he felt a sudden surge of energy.
- The heater takes a little while to warm up, but once it does, you'll feel the heat kick in.
- The effects of the caffeine began to kick in, and he felt more alert.
Synonyms:
3
to contribute one's share of money or assistance to a collective effort or cause
- We all need to kick in for the office gift to show our appreciation to the boss.
- Can you kick in a few bucks to help cover the cost of the party decorations?
- Everyone in the neighborhood kicked in to repair the playground equipment.
- I'll kick a few dollars in for the charity event.
- Can you kick some time in to help us with the event planning?
Synonyms: