Definition of 'in'
pronunciation note: The preposition is pronounced (ɪn
). The adverb is pronounced (ɪn
).language note: 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.
2. preposition
3. adverb [be ADV]
4. adverb [ADV after v]
When someone comes in, they enter a room or building.
5. adverb
If a train, boat, or plane has come in or is in, it has arrived at a station, port, or airport.
6. adverb
When the sea or tide comes in, the sea moves toward the shore rather than away from it.
7. preposition
8. preposition
9. preposition
10. preposition
Something that is covered or wrapped in something else has that thing over or around its surface.
11. preposition
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
2. preposition
3. preposition
4. preposition
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
1. preposition
If something happens in a particular year, month, or other period of time, it happens during that time.
2. preposition
3. preposition [PREP amount]
4. preposition [PREP amount]
If something will happen in a particular length of time, it will happen after that length of time.
5. preposition [PREP poss pl-num]
6. preposition
7. preposition [num PREP num]
You use in to express a ratio, proportion, or probability.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
1. preposition [v-link PREP n]
2. preposition
3. preposition
4. preposition
5. preposition
6. preposition
8. preposition
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: plural inspronunciation 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]
2. preposition [PREP -ing]
3.
See be in for
4.
5.
See in on
6.
See be in with
7.
See in that
8.
See ins and outs
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
IN in American English
Indiana
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
In in American English 1
Indiana
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
In in American English 2
Chemistry
indium
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
in in American English 1
preposition
1.
contained or enclosed by; inside; within
in the room, in the envelope
2.
wearing; clothed by
to dress in one's best
3.
during the course of
done in a day
4.
at or before the end of
return in an hour
7.
a.
being a member of or worker at
in the navy, in business
b.
being a student at
she's in college
8.
out of a group or set of
one in ten will fail
9.
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 preferred19.
living or located at
vacationing in Venice
adverb
20.
from a point outside to one inside
to invite visitors in
22.
at or inside one's home, office, etc.
forced to stay in for a day
23.
a.
so as to be contained by a certain space or condition
b.
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
30. Informal
profiting to the extent of
to be in $100
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
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
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 English 2
inch(es)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
in- in American English 1
in, into, within, on, toward
also used as an intensifier in some words of Latin origin [inbreed, infer, induct, instigate]: it becomes il- before l; im- before b, m, or p; and ir- before rWebster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
in- in American English 2
no, not, without, non- [ insignificant]
it becomes il- before l; im- before b, m, or p; and ir- before rWebster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
-in in American English 1
3.
a protein
albumin
4.
a glyceride
palmitin
5.
an enzyme
rennin
8.
a pharmaceutical preparation
chrysarobin
9.
a commercial product, material, or mixture
algin
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
see -ine3Word Frequency
-in in American English 2
any of various mass actions or gatherings of a (specified) type, as a political demonstration or a form of entertainment
pray-in, be-in
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
in in American English 1
(ɪn) (verb inned, inning)
preposition
3.
(used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time)
in ancient times
a task done in ten minutes
4.
(used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.)
to speak in a whisper
to be similar in appearance
5.
(used to indicate means)
sketched in ink
spoken in French
6.
(used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within); into
Let's go in the house
8.
(used to indicate object or purpose)
speaking in honor of the event
9. See in that
adverb
10.
in or into some place, position, state, relation, etc
Please come in
11.
on the inside; within
12.
in one's house or office
13.
in office or power
14.
in possession or occupancy
15.
having the turn to play, as in a game
16. Baseball (of an infielder or outfielder)
in a position closer to home plate than usual; short
The third baseman played in, expecting a bunt
17.
on good terms; in favor
He's in with his boss, but he doubts it will last
19.
in season
Watermelons will soon be in
20. See be in for
21. See in for it
22. See in with
adjective
23.
located or situated within; inner; internal
the in part of a mechanism
24. informal
a.
in favor with advanced or sophisticated people; fashionable; stylish
the in place to dine
Her new novel is the in book to read this summer
25.
well-liked; included in a favored group
27.
plentiful; available
28.
being in power, authority, control, etc
a member of the in party
noun
30. (usually ins)
persons in office or political power (distinguished from outs)
31.
a member of the political party in power
The election made him an in
33. (in tennis, squash, handball, etc.)
a return or service that lands within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of
a court (opposed to out)
transitive verb
34. Brit dialect
to enclose
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; 1925–30 for def. 32; ME, OE; c. G, D, OFris, OS, Goth in, ON ī, L in, Gk en, Lith į]Word Frequency
in in American English 2
abbreviation
inch; inches
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
In in American English
the chemical symbol for
Chemistry
indium
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
in- in American English 1
prefix
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
in- in American English 2
prefix
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[‹ L, comb. form of in (prep.); c. in]Word Frequency
in- in American English 3
prefix
USAGE The prefixes in- and un- may both have, among other uses, a negative force. in- is the form derived from Latin, and is therefore used in learned words or in words
derived from Latin or (rarely) Greek: inaccessible, inaccuracy, inadequate, etc. un- is the native form going back to Old English, used in words of native origin, and
sometimes used in combination with words of other origins if these words are in common
use: unloving, ungodly, unfeeling, unnecessary, unsafe. a prefix of Latin origin, corresponding to English un-, having a negative or privative force, freely used as an English formative, esp. of adjectives and their derivatives and of nouns (inattention; indefensible; inexpensive; inorganic; invariable). It assumes the same phonetic phases as in-2 ( impartial; immeasurable; illiterate; irregular, etc.). In French, it became en- and thus occurs unfelt in such words as enemy (French ennemi, Latin inimicus, lit., not friendly)
Also: il-, im-, ir-Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[‹ L; akin to an-1, a-6, un-1]Word Frequency
-in in American English 1
suffix
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[ME -in, -ine ‹ OF ‹ L -inus, -ina, -inum ‹ Gk -inos, -inē, -inon]Word Frequency
-in in American English 2
suffix
a noun suffix used in a special manner in chemical and mineralogical nomenclature (glycerin; acetin, etc.). In spelling, usage wavers between -in and -ine. In chemistry a certain distinction of use is attempted, basic substances having the termination -ine rather than -in (aconitine; aniline, etc.), and -in being restricted to certain neutral compounds, glycerides, glucosides, and proteids ( albumin; palmitin, etc.), but this distinction is not always observed
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
-in in American English 3
suffix
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
in in British English 1
preposition
1.
inside; within
no smoking in the auditorium
2.
at a place where there is
lying in the shade
walking in the rain
3.
indicating a state, situation, or condition
in a deep sleep
standing in silence
5.
using (a language, etc) as a means of communication
written in code
6.
concerned or involved with, esp as an occupation
in journalism
8.
while or by performing the action of; as a consequence of or by means of
in crossing the street he was run over
9.
used to indicate goal or purpose
in honour of the president
10.
in foal
in calf
12. See have it in one
13. See in it
14. See in that
15. See nothing in it
adverb (particle)
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
21. (in combination)
teach-in
work-in
22. See in at
23. See in between
24. See in for
25. See in on
26. See in with
27. See have it in for
adjective
noun
30. See ins and outs
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English; compare Old High German in, Welsh yn, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek enWord Frequency
in in British English 2
the internet domain name for
India
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
In in British English
the chemical symbol for
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
IN in British English
abbreviation for
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Indiana in British English
noun
a state of the N central US, in the Midwest: consists of an undulating plain, with sand dunes and lakes in the north and limestone caves in the south. Capital: Indianapolis. Pop: 6 195 643 (2003 est). Area: 93 491 sq km (36 097 sq miles)
Abbreviation: Ind. or (with zip code) INCollins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
in. in British English
abbreviation for
inch(es)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
in- in British English 1
prefix
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
from Latin in-; related to ne-, nōn not
Word Frequency
-in in British English
suffix forming nouns
1.
insulin
digitoxin
tripalmitin
4.
indicating a chemical substance in certain nonsystematic names
coumarin
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
from New Latin -ina; compare -ine2Examples of 'in' in a sentence
in
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Trends of
in
View usage over:
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In other languages
in
- American English: in /ɪn/
- Arabic: فِي
- Brazilian Portuguese: em
- Chinese: 在...里
- Croatian: u
- Czech: v
- Danish: i
- Dutch: in
- European Spanish: en
- Finnish: NO TRANSLATION
- French: dans
- German: in
- Greek: μέσα
- Italian: in
- Japanese: ・・・の中に
- Korean: ...의 안에
- Norwegian: i
- Polish: w
- European Portuguese: em
- Romanian: în
- Russian: в
- Spanish: en
- Swedish: i
- Thai: ใน
- Turkish: içinde
- Ukrainian: в
- Vietnamese: bên trong
British English: in
/ɪn/ PREPOSITION
denoting time You use in to say when something happens.
He was born in winter.
- American English: in /ɪn/
- Arabic: في
- Brazilian Portuguese: em
- Chinese: 在
- Croatian: u
- Czech: v
- Danish: i
- Dutch: in
- European Spanish: en
- Finnish: -ssaMaaliskuu[ssa]
- French: en période
- German: in
- Greek: σε
- Italian: in
- Japanese: ・・・に
- Korean: ~에
- Norwegian: i
- Polish: w
- European Portuguese: em
- Romanian: în
- Russian: в
- Spanish: en
- Swedish: i
- Thai: ใน
- Turkish: de, da
- Ukrainian: в
- Vietnamese: vào lúc
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