paid or given in goods, commodities, or services instead of money.
in-kind welfare programs.
paying or returning something of the same kind as that received or offered.
With produce or commodities rather than money. For example, I edited Bob's book for payment in kind; he gave me voice lessons in exchange . [c. 1600]
In the same manner or with an equivalent, as in He returned the insult in kind . [Early 1700s]
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
OFAC's alert said payments could involve cash as well as "digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments," including charitable donations and payments at Iranian embassies.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
The group estimated in the internal budget documents it was taking in about $215 million in in-kind donations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
To fully avoid triggering rules about in-kind support and maintenance, your son’s rent must be at or near fair market value.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 18, 2026
Because the client isn’t worried about hitting the estate-tax exemption ceiling, he used an in-kind distribution, bringing the Apple stock back to his estate and put in $1 million of another asset.
From Barron's ● Feb. 28, 2026
Brentwood School provided in-kind services through the use of its facilities and veteran activities, all valued at $918,000 annually.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2025
Mbappe responded in kind with two goals in France's weather-delayed victory against Iraq on his 100th international appearance.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
According to Pillay, the detainees learned what was happening outside and responded in kind.
From Slate ● May 29, 2026
Beach needs to return 14 PJ in kind.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
He vowed to act "proactively" to restore trust with Pyongyang, adding: "We hope the North will trust the sincerity of our government and respond in kind."
From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026
One of them hisses, softly, and the other responds in kind.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
