in

IN/ɪn/

37 meanings of in

1
locationpreposition
Inside or within a place, a container or an area.
We live in a small town.
The children played in the garden.
UsageSay in the room and in London, but on the table and at the door.
Similarinside, within
Oppositeoutside
2
when (period)preposition
During a certain period of time, such as a month, a year, or a season.
My birthday is in June.
It gets dark early in winter.
UsageSay in May and in the morning, but on Monday.
Similarduring
3
preposition
Used for things that are inside something that is not a physical place, such as a speech or a person.
There is some truth in what you say.
He has no fear in him.
4
preposition
Used to say what subject or area something is about, as in 'a change in the weather'.
What did you get in math?
There has been a rise in prices.
UsageSay interested in art and a degree in chemistry.
5
member ofpreposition
Part of a group, or one out of a larger number.
One in five children walks to school.
My sister is in a band.
UsageSay one in ten for one out of ten.
6
statepreposition
Used to say what state or condition someone or something is in, as in 'in danger'.
The old house is in bad condition.
They are in love.
UsageOften with no a or the: in love, in pain, in trouble.
7
preposition
Showing the language, material, money or way used, as in 'written in French' or 'paid in cash'.
The book was written in Spanish.
Please answer in full sentences.
UsageSay in English, in pencil, in cash.
8
adverb
Into or inside a place or thing.
Come in and sit down.
The dog ran in from the rain.
UsageUse it alone after a verb: come in, eat in.
Similarinside, indoors
Oppositeout, outside
Note
9
preposition
Into, meaning moving toward the inside of something.
Put the eggs in the basket.
He jumped in the pool.
UsageAfter words like go and put, you can also say into.
Similarinto
Oppositeout
Note
10
adjective
Joining, or ready to join, a plan, activity or bet.
When Sam asked who wanted to play soccer after school, I said, "I'm in."
Four of us are going camping next weekend, and Lisa says she's in.
Similargame
Oppositeout

Less common meanings

11
time takenpreposition
Before a certain amount of time has passed, as in 'finish in a week'.
Can you finish the job in a week?
She learned to drive in a month.
Similarwithin
12
adjective
At home or at work, and not out somewhere else.
Is your mother in?
The doctor is not in today.
UsageSay nobody is in when no one is at home.
Similarhome, present, around
Oppositeout, away, absent
13
by doingpreposition
Used before an '-ing' word to mean 'by doing something' or 'while doing it'.
He broke it in trying to fix it.
She hurt her back in lifting the box.
Note
14
formationpreposition
Used to say the shape or pattern that things are arranged in, as in 'in a row'.
Stand in a line, please.
The chairs were set out in rows.
UsageSay in a line, in pairs, in order.
15
arrivingadverb
Toward the place where the speaker is, or toward the shore or center, as in 'the tide comes in'.
The train got in late last night.
The tide is coming in.
UsageSay a plane gets in at noon: it arrives.
Oppositeout
16
wearingpreposition
Wearing certain clothes, as in 'the girl in the red dress'.
Who is the boy in the blue shirt?
She came in her school uniform.
UsageUsed before clothes or colors: in uniform, dressed in black.
17
fashionableadjective
Fashionable or popular at the moment.
Long coats are in this winter.
That band is very in right now.
UsageUse it after be: is in, are in. The opposite is out.
Similarfashionable, trendy, popular, hip, stylish
Oppositeout, unfashionable, dated, outmoded
Note
18
adjective
Inside something, or put into it.
Is the thorn still in? Your finger looks red.
The splinter is too far in, so I can't pull it out.
Similarinside, embedded
Oppositeout
19
after the startadverb
After a certain amount of time has passed since the start, as in 'ten minutes in'.
Ten minutes in, the movie got boring.
Two weeks in, I already wanted to quit.
UsagePut in after the time: ten minutes in. Putting it first, in ten minutes, changes the meaning.
20
from nowpreposition
When a certain amount of time has passed.
The bus leaves in ten minutes.
Come back in two weeks, and the cast can come off.
UsageIn a week means a week from now.
Note
21
adjective
Arrived or received. Of goods, in the shop and ready to buy.
The exam results are in.
All the money is in now.
UsageSay the results are in when they have arrived.
Similarreceived, collected, gathered
22
mixing withadjective
Friendly with someone, often someone who can help you.
She got in with a bad crowd at school.
He is in with the gang that runs the docks.
UsageSay get in with a group: become friendly with them.
Similarinvolved, friendly
23
nouncountable
Power or influence somewhere, or a way to get it.
My cousin works at the theater, so I have an in for tickets.
She used her in with the coach to get a tryout.
UsageSay an in with someone: a way to get their help.
Similarconnection, contact, opening
Note
24
inside linesadjective
Of a ball in a game: inside the lines of the playing area.
Was that serve in or out?
The kick looked wide, but the ball stayed in.
UsageUse it after a verb: the ball was in. The opposite is out.
Similargood
Oppositeout
Note
25
adjective
Of the sea's tide: high, or almost as high as it gets.
When the tide is in, the beach is very small.
By the time we got back, the tide was in and our towels were soaked.
UsageUsually the tide is in; the opposite is the tide is out.
Similarhigh
Oppositeout, low
26
inchnounabbreviation
Short for inch or inches: a small unit of length, written after a number, as in 6ft 5in.
The board is 4ft 6in long.
He is 5ft 11in tall.
UsageUsed for both one inch (1in) and more than one (10in).
Note
27
adjective
Having a turn to bat right now, in a game of cricket.
Our best batter is in, and he just hit the ball over the boundary for six runs.
She was in for most of the afternoon and scored fifty runs.
UsageUsed after be (he is in); the opposite is out.
Oppositeout
Note
28
preposition
Used by grammar books to say what letters or sounds a word ends or begins with, as in 'nouns in -s'.
29
preposition
Used to show a person has a quality, as in "he has a good helper in his son."
30
verbobsolete
To close something in.
31
verbobsolete
To gather in crops.
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.
c. 1604, William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”
32
noun
Someone who is in power or in office.
33
noun
The position of a player who is batting at the moment.
34
adjective
Of a sail, folded up and put away.
35
adjective
Of land in law: owned or held by someone.
36
adjective
Of a fire, still burning.
37
adjective
Having already used, drunk, spent or put in a certain amount, as in 'three drinks in.'

Practice

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Origin

This comes from Old English "in" and "inne", from an older Germanic word, and goes back to an ancient root meaning "in".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English 'in' comes from Old English 'in' and 'inne'. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English forms ultimately derive from an older Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately goes back to an ancient root meaning 'in'. en.wiktionary.org