Definition of 'in'

Word Frequency

in position or movement

pronunciation note: The preposition is pronounced (ɪn). The adverb is pronounced (ɪn).In addition to the uses shown below, in is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives in order to introduce extra information. In is also used with verbs of movement such as 'walk' and 'push', and in phrasal verbs such as 'give in' and 'dig in'.

1. preposition

Someone or something that is in something else is enclosed by it or surrounded by it. If you put something in a container, you move it so that it is enclosed by the container.

He was in his car.

...clothes hanging in the wardrobe.

Put the knives in the kitchen drawer.

Mix the sugar and the water in a cup.

Synonyms: into, within, inside More Synonyms of in

2. preposition

If something happens in a place, it happens there.

We spent a few days in a hotel.

He had intended to take a holiday in America.

Those rockets landed in the desert.

3. adverb [be ADVERB]

If you are in, you are present at your home or place of work.

My flatmate was in at the time.

He has had to be in every day.

Synonyms: at home More Synonyms of in

4. adverb [ADVERB after verb]

When someone comes in, they enter a room or building.

She looked up anxiously as he came in.

They shook hands and went in.

Synonyms: inside, within, indoors, under cover More Synonyms of in

5. adverb [ADVERB after verb, be ADVERB]

If a train, boat, or plane has come in or is in, it has arrived at a station, port, or airport.

We'd be watching every plane coming in from Melbourne.

Look. The train's in. We'll have to run for it now.

Synonyms: arrived, here More Synonyms of in

6. adverb [ADVERB after verb, be ADVERB]

When the sea or tide comes in, the sea moves towards the shore rather than away from it.

She thought of the tide rushing in, covering the wet sand.

If the tide was in they went swimming.

Synonyms: high, rising More Synonyms of in

7. preposition

Something that is in a window, especially a shop window, is just behind the window so that you can see it from outside.

The light in the window went out.

There was a camera for sale in the window.

8. preposition

When you see something in a mirror, the mirror shows an image of it.

I couldn't bear to see my reflection in the mirror.

He caught sight of his hair in a mirror.

9. preposition

If you are dressed in a piece of clothing, you are wearing it.

He was a big man, smartly dressed in a suit and tie.

...three women in black.

10. preposition

Something that is covered or wrapped in something else has that thing over or round its surface.

His legs were covered in mud.

...carrots wrapped in newspaper.

Synonyms: with, by, within More Synonyms of in

11. preposition

If there is something such as a crack or hole in something, there is a crack or hole on its surface.

There was a deep crack in the ceiling above him.

...an unsightly hole in the garden.

More Synonyms of in

Word Frequency

in inclusion or involvement

(ɪn )

1. preposition

If something is in a book, film, play, or picture, you can read it or see it there.

Don't stick too precisely to what it says in the book.

...one of the funniest scenes in the film.

2. preposition

If you are in something such as a play or a race, you are one of the people taking part.

Alf offered her a part in the play he was directing.

The Princess had been invited to ride in a charity race.

More than fifteen thousand people took part in the memorial service.

3. preposition

Something that is in a group or collection is a member of it or part of it.

The New England team are the worst in the league.

...the most spectacular painting in the collection.

4. preposition

You use in to specify a general subject or field of activity.

...those working in the defence industry.

...future developments in medicine.

Word Frequency

in time and numbers

(ɪn )

1. preposition

If something happens in a particular year, month, or other period of time, it happens during that time.

...that early spring day in April 1949.

Export orders improved in the last month.

In the evening, the people assemble in the mosques.

He believes food prices will go up in the future.

Synonyms: during, in the year of, in the period of More Synonyms of in

2. preposition

If something happens in a particular situation, it happens while that situation is going on.

His father had been badly wounded in the last war.

...issues you struggle with in your daily life.

3. preposition

If you do something in a particular period of time, that is how long it takes you to do it.

He walked two hundred and sixty miles in eight days.

4. preposition

If something will happen in a particular length of time, it will happen after that length of time.

I'll have some breakfast ready in a few minutes.

They'll be back in six months.

Synonyms: after, following, subsequent to More Synonyms of in

5. preposition

You use in to indicate roughly how old someone is. For example, if someone is in their fifties, they are between 50 and 59 years old.

...young people in their twenties.

...Molly, a tall woman in her early sixties.

6. preposition

You use in to indicate roughly how many people or things do something.

...men who came there in droves.

The children were assembled in hundreds.

The jugs were produced in their millions.

7. preposition

You use in to express a ratio, proportion, or probability.

Last year, one in five boys left school without a qualification.

He was told that he had a one in 500 chance of survival.

Synonyms: per, out of, of More Synonyms of in

Word Frequency

in states and qualities

(ɪn )

1. preposition

If something or someone is in a particular state or situation, that is their present state or situation.

The economy was in trouble.

Dave was in a hurry to get back to work.

Their equipment was in poor condition.

One of their men was in danger.

2. preposition

You use in to indicate the feeling or desire which someone has when they do something, or which causes them to do it.

Simpson looked at them in surprise.

Chris was weeping in anger and grief.

Carl pushed ahead in his eagerness to reach the wall.

3. preposition

If a particular quality or ability is in you, you naturally have it.

Violence is not in his nature.

I couldn't find it in me to embrace him.

4. preposition

You use in when saying that someone or something has a particular quality.

He had all the qualities I was looking for in a partner.

'I don't agree,' she said, surprised at the strength in her own voice.

There is artistry in what he does.

5. preposition

You use in to indicate how someone is expressing something.

Information is given to the patient verbally and in writing.

...lessons in languages other than Spanish.

...trying to speak in a casual voice.

...written in a simple but very expressive style.

6. preposition

You use in in expressions such as in a row or in a ball to describe the arrangement or shape of something.

The cards need to be laid out in two rows.

Her ear, shoulder and hip are in a straight line.

He was curled up in a ball.

7. preposition

If something is in a particular colour, it has that colour.

...white flowers edged in pink.

He saw something written in black on the gravestones.

8. preposition

You use in to specify which feature or aspect of something you are talking about.

The movie is nearly two hours in length.

The oil is green in colour.

There is a big difference in the amounts that banks charge.

...a real increase in the standard of living.

The officers were rather slovenly in their methods.

Word Frequency

in other uses and phrases

Word forms: plural ins pronunciation note: Pronounced (ɪn) for meanings [sense 1] and , [sense 3] to , [sense 8], and (ɪn) for meaning [sense 2].

1. adjective

If you say that something is in, or is the in thing, you mean it is fashionable or popular.

[informal]

A few years ago jogging was the in thing.

It is the 'in' place to go for a quick drink after work.

Synonyms: fashionable, current, popular, cool [slang] More Synonyms of in

2. preposition [PREP v-ing]

You use in with a present participle to indicate that when you do something, something else happens as a result.

In working with others, you find out more about yourself.

Word Frequency

in.

in. is a written abbreviation for inch. The plural can be 'in.' or 'ins'.

...30.4 x 25.4 cm (12 x 10 in).

It is 24 ins wide and 16 ins high.

See related content

Synonyms of "in"

French Definition of "in"

Word lists "cricket"

Translator

Hindi Definition of "in"

NEW from Collins!

Easy Learning English Grammar

Word Frequency

in in British 1

(ɪn )

preposition

inside; within

no smoking in the auditorium

at a place where there is

lying in the shade

walking in the rain

indicating a state, situation, or condition

in a deep sleep

standing in silence

before or when (a period of time) has elapsed

come back in one year

using (a language, etc) as a means of communication

written in code

concerned or involved with, esp as an occupation

in journalism

expressing a ratio, proportion, or probability

one in five boys

while or by performing the action of; as a consequence of or by means of

in crossing the street he was run over

used to indicate goal or purpose

in honour of the president

10.

(used of certain animals) about to give birth to; pregnant with (specified offspring)

in foal

in calf

11. a variant of into

she fell in the water

he tore the paper in two

12. have it in one

13. in it

14. in that

15. nothing in it

adverb (particle)

16.

in or into a particular place; inward or indoors

come in

bring him in

17.

so as to achieve office, power, or authority

the Conservatives got in at the last election

18.

so as to enclose

block in

cover in a hole

19.

(in certain games) so as to take one's turn or one's team's turn at a certain aspect of the play; taking one's innings

you have to get the other side out before you go in

20. British

(of a fire) alight

do you keep the fire in all night?

21. (in combination)

indicating an activity or gathering, esp one organized to protest against something

teach-in

work-in

22. in at

23. in between

24. in for

25. in on

26. in with

27. have it in for

adjective

28. (stressed)

fashionable; modish

the in thing to do

29. New Zealand

competing

you've got to be in to win

noun

30. ins and outs

Word origin of 'in'

Old English; compare Old High German in, Welsh yn, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek en

Word Frequency

in in British 2

the internet domain name for

India

Word Frequency

In in British

the chemical symbol for

indium

Word Frequency

IN in British

abbreviation for

Indiana

Word Frequency

in. in British

abbreviation for

inch(es)

Word Frequency

IN in American

Indiana

Word Frequency

In in American 1

Indiana

Word Frequency

In in American 2

Chemistry

indium

Word Frequency

in in American 1

(ɪn )

preposition

contained or enclosed by; inside; within

in the room, in the envelope

wearing; clothed by

to dress in one's best

during the course of

done in a day

at or before the end of

return in an hour

perceptible to (one of the senses)

the town is in sight; he told a lie in my hearing

limited by the scope of

in my opinion

being a member of or worker at

in the navy, in business

being a student at

she's in college

being an inmate of

to be in prison

out of a group or set of

one in ten will fail

amidst; surrounded by

in a storm, in total darkness

10.

affected by (a specified state or condition); having

he's in trouble; they were in tears

11.

engaged or occupied by (an activity or process)

in a search for truth, deep in thought

12.

with regard to; as concerns

weak in faith, to vary in size, six feet two in height

13.

so as to form; arranged to produce the form or shape of

hair done in curls, standing in a line

14.

with; by; using

to paint in oils, written in English, sculpture done in wood

15.

because of; for

to cry in pain

16.

by way of; for the purpose of

do this in my defense

17.

as a part of the capacity or function of; belonging to

he didn't have it in him to cheat; can you find it in yourself to forgive her?

18.

into [break it in two; come in the house]

when the idea of motion from outside to inside is intended, into is generally preferred

19.

living or located at

vacationing in Venice

adverb

20.

from a point outside to one inside

to invite visitors in

21.

to or toward a certain place or direction

he flies in today, they live ten miles in

22.

at or inside one's home, office, etc.

forced to stay in for a day

23.

so as to be contained by a certain space or condition

so as to be in office or power

24.

so as to be agreeing or involved

he fell in with our plans

25.

so as to form a part

mix in the cream

adjective

26.

that is successful or in power

the in group

27.

inner; inside

28.

coming or going inside or inward

the in door, the in boat

29.

completed, gathered, counted, etc.

the votes are in

30. Informal

profiting to the extent of

to be in $100

31. Informal

currently smart, popular, fashionable, etc.

an in place to go

32. Informal

known to or able to be understood by only a certain group of people; inside (sense 7)

an in joke

noun

33.

a person, group, etc. that is in power, in office, or in a favored position

usually used in pl.

34. US, Informal

special influence or favor; pull

verb transitiveWord forms: inned or ˈinning Chiefly British, Dialectal

35.

to collect; gather in

in the hay before it rains

36.

to enclose

Idioms:

Word origin of 'in'

ME < OE, akin to Ger in < IE base *en- > Gr en, L in (OL en), OIr in, OSlav on-, Sans an-

Word Frequency

in in American 2

inch(es)

Example sentences containing 'in'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

To make matters worse, the other woman had moved straight in with Nick. Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)He stood around uneasily, obviously not wanting to go back to his game of solitaire while I was still in the room. Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)