DictionaryAI

into

preposition
SayIN-too/ˈɪn.tu/UK/ˈɪn.tuː/

12 meanings of into

Practice

  1. 1
    insidepreposition
    Moving so that you go inside something or a place.

    Think of it like an arrow crossing a doorway.

    The little boy jumped into the pool with all his clothes on.

    Pour the wine into the jug.

    UsageUse into when something moves inside. Use in for where it already is.

    Note
  2. 2
    change of statepreposition
    Becoming something different, as in 'turn into a wolf'.

    Jake turned into a wolf before our eyes.

    I carved the driftwood into a whale.

    UsageOften after turn or change: turn into a frog.

    Similarto

  3. 3
    splitpreposition
    Divided in parts, as in 'cut into four'.

    My mom cut the pizza into twelve small slices for the party.

    Cut the cake into eight pieces.

    UsageUse after cut, split or divide: cut into four. We usually say cut in half.

  4. 4
    aboutpreposition
    About, after words like 'research' or 'inquiry'.

    There are calls for research into the pesticides.

    The police opened an inquiry into the fire.

    UsageLook into a problem means try to find out about it.

    Similaron, of

  5. 5
    after the startpreposition
    Some way through a period of time, as in 'ten minutes into the film'.

    Two hours into the hike, we stopped to eat our sandwiches.

    We are well into autumn now.

    UsageThe time usually comes first: two hours into the hike.

  6. 6
    collisionpreposition
    Hitting something, often hard, as in 'crash into a tree'.

    The car crashed into a tree.

    I walked into a glass door.

    UsageBump into or run into someone can mean meet them by chance.

    Similaragainst

  7. 7
    keen onprepositioncolloquial
    Very interested in or attracted to, in casual speech, as in 'into jazz'.

    She is really into Shakespeare right now.

    My brother was never really into sports as a kid.

    UsageUse it with be or get: I'm into jazz.

  8. 8
    persuaded topreposition
    Used after verbs like talk, trick or force to show what someone is pushed or persuaded to do.

    My sister talked me into buying the red shoes.

    He was tricked into giving away his password.

    UsageSay talk someone into doing something. With persuade, to is more usual: persuade someone to do it.

  9. 9
    preposition
    Used after words like put or pour to show what gets your time, money or effort.

    She puts all her energy into her soccer team.

    Dad poured a lot of money into fixing up the old car.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 10
    attackingprepositioncolloquial
    Attacking or fighting someone or an animal, in casual speech, as in 'I'll be into him'.

    When the bully pushed his friend, Sam was into him at once.

    The dog was into the intruder before he reached the gate.

    UsageBe into someone can also mean you like them, so look at the context.

    Note
  2. 11
    dividing numberspreposition
    In dividing, as in 'three goes into twelve four times'.

    How many times does three go into twelve?

    Six goes into thirty exactly five times, with nothing left over.

    UsageUsually with go: three goes into twelve four times.

    Note
  3. 12
    multiplyingprepositionarchaicBritishIndia
    Multiplied by, in Indian English and old British use, as in 'five into three is fifteen'.

    Our teacher said that five into three is fifteen.

    To find the area, multiply the length into the breadth.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of into apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English "intō", made of "in" plus "to".

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts