kick in
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle in
Meanings
Begin to take effect
Why “in”? In marks the start of an action or change. It can also mean slowly using something new until it feels comfortable.
“The painkillers should kick in soon.”
“The heating kicked in after ten minutes.”
Contribute money towards a shared cost
Why “in”? A person, idea, effort, or item becomes part of a group, activity, or plan.
“Everyone kicked in twenty pounds.”
“Each parent kicked in five pounds.”
Break a door open with a kick
Why “in”? A person, vehicle, message, or result reaches a place or becomes present there.
“Police kicked the door in.”
“The firefighter kicked the door in.”
Don't confuse with
Kick in means begin to take effect. Kick off means begin an event or activity.
Test yourself
“The painkillers should kick in soon.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
kick off
A contrast learners often mix up
Begin an event or activity
ask in
Same in pattern: arrival
Invite someone to enter your home
barge in
Same in pattern: arrival
Enter a place rudely without permission
blend in
Same in pattern: inclusion
Look or behave like the people around you
break in
Same in pattern: arrival
Enter a building illegally by force; Interrupt a conversation and begin speaking
bring in
Same in pattern: inclusion
Introduce someone or something into a discussion or organisation; Earn money for a person or business; Introduce a new law, system or rule; Deliver a verdict in a court
burst in
Same in pattern: arrival
Enter a place suddenly and forcefully
call in
Same in pattern: arrival
Visit a place briefly, often on the way somewhere; Phone a workplace or radio station; Ask experts or professionals to come and help; Demand the return of money lent
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “kick in” in Sink In
Drill “kick in” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
