PIE word
*h₁en
Preposition and verb from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in.
Adverb, noun and adjective from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai.
Sense 1/2 "in"/"into" are from the original PIE prefix, with locative/accusative case respectively. Sense 3/4 "qualification"/"means" are from the PIE metaphor of all infinitives coming from locatives.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Located indoors, especially at home or at one's office or place of work.
Is Mr. Smith in?
(not-comparable) Located inside something.
The bullet is about five centimetres in.
Little by little I pushed the snake into the basket, until finally all of it was in.
(of the ball or other playing implement) Falling or remaining within the bounds of the playing area.
If the tennis ball bounces on the line then it's in.
Inserted or fitted into something.
I've discovered why the TV wasn't working – the plug wasn't in!
Having been collected or received.
The replies to the questionnaires are now all in.
Having been collected or received. ▸ In stock, available in stores (particularly of a new item).
Our latest product is in!
In fashion; popular.
Skirts are in this year.
Pierce a new hole
If Hell was in you'd give your soul
To the great southern trendkill 1996, “The Great Southern Trendkill”, performed by Pantera:
Incoming.
the in train
(of the sails of a vessel) Furled or stowed.
Of the tide, at or near its highest level.
You can't get round the headland when the tide's in.
With privilege or possession; used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin.
in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband
Currently batting.
Having familiarity or involvement with somebody.
He is very in with the Joneses.
“[…] He […] took a rifle out of the batch and shot at me. I was lucky he was such a crummy shot.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I think he's in with them, Doctor.”
“Them? You mean Ned and Cody?”
“All of them. Hickok, the split tail, the whole lot.” 2010, Joe R. Lansdale, Flaming Zeppelins: The Adventures of Ned the Seal, page 123:
(informal) Having a favourable position, such as a position of influence or expected gain, in relation to another person.
I saw this thing on ITV the other week,
Said, that if she played with her hair, she's probably keen
She's playing with her hair, well regularly,
So I reckon I could well be in. 2004, The Streets, “Could Well Be In”:
I need to keep in with the neighbours in case I ever need a favour from them.
I think that bird fancies you. You're in there, mate!
(of fire or fuel) (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) Burning; ablaze.
He turned and started making up the range to keep the fire in overnight, and heard the front door click and Grant’s motor fire up. Sleep. He needed to sleep. 2019, A.L.Lester, Shadows on the Border:
Was there any person in your own house at Renmore to keep the fire in while you were here?. 1901, William Francis Barry, The Wizard’s Knot, page 231:
Blocks of compressed coal keep the fire in for a long time, but they give out very little heat. 1888, H.C. O’Neill, Edith A. Barnett, Our Nurses and the Work They Have to Do, page 81:
“At all events,” said the Doctor, “the fire’s in, and here’s the camp-oven, too. Somebody will be here soon. I will go in and light my pipe.” 1894, Henry Kingsley, The Recollections of Geoffry Hamlyn - Volume 2, page 183:
Normally when they camped in the wild they took turns to sit up and keep the fire in while the others slept, […]. 2011, Rosemary Sutcliff, The Eagle of the Ninth Chronicles:
Having used, consumed , or invested a certain amount.
pt em alta (in fashion, popular) · fr à la mode (in fashion, popular) · pl nadchodzący (incoming) · grc προσερχόμενος (incoming) · fr in (in fashion, popular) · pl przychodzący (incoming) · de hereinkommend (incoming) · pt na moda (in fashion, popular) · ca de moda (in fashion, popular) · sv inkommande (incoming) · nl in (in fashion, popular) · pl na czasie (in fashion, popular) · gd san fhasan (in fashion, popular) · es de moda (in fashion, popular) · ga san fhaisean (in fashion, popular) · sv ankommande (incoming) · pt que chega (incoming) · ga faiseanta (in fashion, popular) · fi muodissa (in fashion, popular) · pt in (in fashion, popular) · it in arrivo (incoming) · ca arribant (incoming) · lt madingas (in fashion, popular) · cs v módě (in fashion, popular) · el προσερχόμενος (incoming) · vot tulõjõ (incoming) · es entrante (incoming) · it in (in fashion, popular) · ga isteach (incoming) · sv inne (in fashion, popular) · pt que entra (incoming) · fi in (in fashion, popular) · pl przybywający (incoming) · ca entrant (incoming) · fi saapuva (incoming) · de in (in fashion, popular) · fr en approche (incoming) · de einfahrend (incoming)
PIE word
*h₁en
Preposition and verb from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in.
Adverb, noun and adjective from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai.
Sense 1/2 "in"/"into" are from the original PIE prefix, with locative/accusative case respectively. Sense 3/4 "qualification"/"means" are from the PIE metaphor of all infinitives coming from locatives.
Meanings
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Contained by; inside.
There were three pickles in a jar.
The dog is in the kennel.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Within the bounds or limits of.
She stood in the spotlight.
I like living in the city.
There are lots of trees in the park.
GDP measures the total value of output in an economic territory. 2013 August 3, “Boundary problems”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847:
He sat in the chair.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Surrounded by; among; amidst.
We are in the enemy camp.
Her plane is in the air.
Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Wearing (an item of clothing).
Who’s the blonde in the sunhat over there?
Officers stopped all cars to look in the back seats and trunks, looking for a girl in pink. 2026 July 25, Nicholas Muhoro, “The Last Call of Jo-Anne Pedersen, the Girl Who Vanished From a Payphone”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026:
I glanced over at the pretty girl in the red dress.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Expressing abstract containment.
There wasn't much of interest in her speech.
He hasn't got an original idea in him.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Part of; a member of; out of; from among.
You are one in a million.
She's in an orchestra.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ During (a period of time or event).
We lost that painting in the move to our new house.
Easter falls in the fourth lunar month.
My birthday is in the first week of December.
The country reached a high level of prosperity in his first term.
Dr. Brewer-Carias, who discovered the canyon in 1976, named is Valle de los Cristales—"valley of the crystals." 1989 May, Uwe George, “Venezuela's Islands in Time”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 542:
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Within (a certain elapsed time); by the end of.
Will you be able to finish this in a week?
The massacre resulted in over 1000 deaths in three hours.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ At the end of (a period of time).
They said they would call us in a week.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Participating in a field, activity or industry.
I've always worked in plastics.
She dabbles in Buddhism.
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits. ▸ Characterized by.
Many English nouns in -is form their plurals in -es, while those in kn- are pronounced just /n/-.
As to enter; from outside to inside; into.
She stood there looking in the window longingly.
Less water gets in your boots this way.
The ball was accidentally kicked in Kevin Nolan's face in the opening seconds of the contest – an incident that set the tone for an extremely uncomfortable encounter for the Premier League side. 2011 January 8, Paul Fletcher, “Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle”, in BBC:
As to enter; from outside to inside; into. ▸ As to enter a driveway, parking lot, etc.
Turn in to the second house on the left.
By (doing something); indicating action causing an effect or achieving a purpose.
In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment.
My aim in travelling there was to find my missing friend.
In trying to make amends, she actually made matters worse.
In returning to the vault, I had no very sure purpose in mind; only a vague surmise that this finding of Blackbeard's coffin would somehow lead to the finding of his treasure. [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
Although severely provoked, she showed admirable restraint in not retaliating.
Indicating an order or arrangement.
The planes flew over in waves.
My fat rolls around in folds.
Arrange the chairs in a circle.
Denoting a state of the subject.
John is in a coma.
He stalked away in anger.
The company is in profit.
My fruit trees are in bud.
I'm pleased we manage to get within range of each other. We kiss in greeting and he seems in good spirits. 1988 February 21, Marea Murray, “Coming Out In Unexpected Ways”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 31, page 7:
Indicates, connotatively, a place-like form of someone's (or something's) personality, as his, her or its psychic and physical characteristics.
He's met his match in her.
You've got a friend in me.
Pertaining to; with regard to.
six inches in depth
What grade did he get in English?
There has been no change in his condition.
As to have sufficient or plentiful amounts of.
The fruit trees in the yard keep me in apples and pears for most of the year.
(of something offered or given in an exchange) Used to indicate means, medium, format, genre, or instrumentality. ▸ In the form of, in the denomination of.
The deposit can be in any legal tender, even in gold.
Her generosity was rewarded in the success of its recipients.
Please pay me in cash — preferably in tens and twenties.
[…] tourists sometimes attempt to pay in euros or British pounds. 2014, Carla Bethmann, Clean, Friendly, Profitable?: Tourism, page 114:
Used to indicate means, medium, format, genre, or instrumentality. ▸ Used to indicate a language, script, tone, etc. of a text, speech, etc.
His speech was in French, but was simultaneously translated into eight languages.
When you write in cursive, it's illegible.
Military letters should be formal in tone, but not stilted.
Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" in C minor is among his most popular.
my မှာ (contained by) · my တွင် (contained by) · la in (surrounded by) · th อีก (after (a period of time)) · gd ann am (after (a period of time)) · eo en (contained by) · ka -ში (part or member of) · da i (contained by) · zdj harumwa (within (a certain elapsed time)) · aeb في (contained by) · cs za (after (a period of time)) · de in (indicating a state) · hy մեջ (surrounded by) · de von (part or member of) · is eftir (after (a period of time)) · pt em (within (a certain elapsed time)) · wa dins (into, towards) · hu -ben (during (a period of time)) · sv på (indicating language, script, or tone) · ang on (into, towards) · ko ...에 둘러싸인 (surrounded by) · ka -ში (indicating a state) · ps په ... کې (part or member of) · fi -stä (part or member of) · sk v (pertaining to) · it in (surrounded by) · ha a (contained by) · kmr di ... de (contained by) · kmr li (within (a certain elapsed time)) · bo ནང་ལ (contained by) · vec te (contained by) · es durante (during (a period of time)) · ur ... میں (contained by) · tr -te (after (a period of time)) · vec 'nte (contained by) · fi -ssa (contained by) · sco i (pertaining to) · es en (part or member of) · tr -ta (after (a period of time)) · vi ở (contained by) · ha cikin (contained by) · tr -e (into, towards) · syl ...-ꠦ (...-e) (contained by) · fi -sta (part or member of) · kmr li (during (a period of time)) · fa اندر (contained by) · vec tra (after (a period of time)) · csb w (contained by) · hu alatt (within (a certain elapsed time)) · tr -dan (part or member of) · ga i (surrounded by) · gd anns (after (a period of time)) · ang on (part or member of) · kmr li (surrounded by) · wa divins (contained by) · sv på (within (a certain elapsed time)) · sco in (pertaining to) · wa divins (after (a period of time)) · nb innenfor (surrounded by) · cmn 在……之內 /在……之内 (after (a period of time)) · eo en (during (a period of time)) · sk o (after (a period of time)) · hu -ban (indicating language, script, or tone) · ang on (within (a certain elapsed time)) · ca de (pertaining to) · pl do (into, towards) · grc ἐν (surrounded by) · eo ĝis post (within (a certain elapsed time)) · dsb we (surrounded by) · an dintro de (surrounded by) · sk v (part or member of) · pon nan (contained by) · ka -ში (during (a period of time)) · ang on (after (a period of time)) · jv ing (contained by) · pl we (contained by) · tr içinde (contained by) · sco i (surrounded by) · cs z (part or member of) · vec inte (surrounded by) · es para (into, towards) · dsb w (into, towards) · de auf (indicating language, script, or tone) · chr ᎭᏫᎾᏗᏢ (contained by) · sd ۾ (contained by) · uk уві (contained by) · aeb عْلَى (part or member of) · nl in (indicating a state) · it dentro (contained by) · gd anns (contained by) · zea in (contained by) · ca dintre (contained by) · vro sisen (contained by) · hu -ban (contained by) · ka -ით (indicating a state) · pt em (surrounded by) · vi trong (contained by) · ccc shana (surrounded by) · grc εἰς (surrounded by) · ko 중 (part or member of) · es en (wearing) · hi ता (after (a period of time)) · cs ve (pertaining to) · dsb w (contained by) · sk do (within (a certain elapsed time)) · cs v (part or member of) · vec int' (into, towards) · el εντός (surrounded by) · eo en (surrounded by) · sv in i (into, towards) · fi -ssä (within (a certain elapsed time)) · dsb w (after (a period of time)) · el σε (into, towards) · hy մեջ (contained by) · fa درون (into, towards) · sv i (surrounded by) · nrf en (indicating language, script, or tone) · gmw-ecg ei (contained by) · cmn 用 (indicating language, script, or tone) · nl in (into, towards) · hi बाद (after (a period of time)) · eo dum (during (a period of time)) · fi -ssa (within (a certain elapsed time)) · gd ann an (surrounded by) · it in (part or member of) · tl sa (contained by) · ka -ში (after (a period of time)) · sl v (contained by) · km ក្នុង (contained by) · ko 이후에 (after (a period of time)) · fi -ssä (pertaining to) · fur in (contained by) · ht nan (surrounded by) · ca en (pertaining to) · gd ann am (surrounded by) · lo ໃນ (contained by) · ko ...로 (indicating language, script, or tone) · ht nan (contained by) · avd ده (contained by) · nl in (part or member of) · vec 'nte (into, towards) · kmr bi (indicating language, script, or tone) · cy yn (contained by) · tr -de (contained by) · ca en (indicating language, script, or tone) · pon nan (surrounded by) · aeb بـ (pertaining to) · ary فـ (contained by) · nrf dans (into, towards) · nb av (part or member of) · fi -lla (indicating language, script, or tone) · sh u (contained by) · ja ...に (contained by) · fi -ksi (indicating language, script, or tone) · et sees (contained by) · fr dans (during (a period of time)) · bg след (after (a period of time)) · sq i (part or member of) · hu -ul (indicating language, script, or tone) · ms dalam (part or member of) · gd anns (surrounded by) · de in (surrounded by) · nn om (after (a period of time)) · kk -да (contained by) · fi -llä (indicating a state) · kmr heta (after (a period of time)) · es en (indicating language, script, or tone) · gd ann am (part or member of) · it in (pertaining to) · vec int' (contained by) · sq në (into, towards) · io en (surrounded by) · ru за (after (a period of time)) · tr içinde (surrounded by) · dsb we (into, towards) · cy yn (indicating language, script, or tone) · el σε (during (a period of time)) · tr -ten (part or member of) · nl in (pertaining to) · sv i (pertaining to) · dsb we (contained by) · fr dans (contained by) · ja ...で (indicating language, script, or tone) · ary في (contained by) · nrf dans (contained by) · de in (during (a period of time)) · ar فِي (surrounded by) · es hacia (into, towards) · uk вві (contained by) · shi ⵖ (contained by) · nn i (contained by) · sv om (after (a period of time)) · hu -vel (indicating language, script, or tone) · ha a ciki (contained by) · fr en (part or member of) · pon nan (during (a period of time)) · nrf dans (surrounded by) · de unter (during (a period of time)) · bo ཏུ (contained by) · ru че́рез (after (a period of time)) · my အထဲ (contained by) · nrf en (part or member of) · sv i (part or member of) · sv på (part or member of) · el σε (surrounded by) · hi अंदर (into, towards) · de während (during (a period of time)) · es dentro de (contained by) · ms di dalam (contained by) · pt em (pertaining to) · eo post (after (a period of time)) · hu -ben (surrounded by) · gu ની અંદર (contained by) · kmr bo (into, towards) · fr en (indicating a state) · ang on (indicating language, script, or tone) · be ў (contained by) · hu -ba (into, towards) · vec int' (surrounded by) · it in (within (a certain elapsed time)) · bo དུ (contained by) · bn ভিতর (contained by) · bo སུ (contained by) · hu -ban (surrounded by) · de in (into, towards) · uk ві (surrounded by) · sk z (part or member of) · uk ві (contained by) · uk уві (surrounded by) · vi bằng (indicating language, script, or tone) · io en (after (a period of time)) · syc ܒ- (contained by) · fr en (during (a period of time)) · ang intō (into, towards) · gd ann an (contained by) · ca a (indicating a state) · ms dalam (pertaining to) · ja ...の中で (contained by) · hy մեջ (part or member of) · ca en (part or member of) · ja ...で (contained by) · ang on (surrounded by) · nn av (part or member of) · fo í (contained by) · nb på (indicating language, script, or tone) · tr -da (contained by) · sk do (into, towards) · pt dentro de (contained by) · oc en (contained by) · bo -ར (contained by) · ar بَعْدَ (after (a period of time)) · bo ལ (contained by) · fo um (after (a period of time)) · az içində (contained by) · ary فـ (surrounded by) · ru в (contained by) · fi -an (into, towards) · ckb لە ... دا (contained by) · vec in (into, towards) · fi -än (into, towards) · hsb w (contained by) · cs ve (part or member of) · an aintro de (surrounded by) · es dentro de (surrounded by) · sco i (contained by) · vec in (surrounded by) · nl in (contained by) · ta உள்ளே (contained by) · nb i (contained by) · ru по- (indicating language, script, or tone) · gd anns (pertaining to) · gd anns (part or member of) · fa درون (surrounded by) · my ၌ (surrounded by) · sv i (into, towards) · ru в (indicating a state) · it in (indicating language, script, or tone) · pl w (indicating language, script, or tone) · sco i (after (a period of time)) · egy m (contained by) · fr en (within (a certain elapsed time)) · ur اندر (contained by) · liv sizāl (contained by) · wa dins (surrounded by) · gd ann an (after (a period of time)) · la ab (part or member of) · an aintro de (into, towards) · ca cap a (into, towards) · be у (contained by) · ht andedan (contained by) · my တွင် (surrounded by) · ga isteach (into, towards) · tr -den (part or member of) · pt em (after (a period of time)) · la a (part or member of) · dsb za (after (a period of time)) · ccc shana (contained by) · syc ܒܓܘ (surrounded by) · aeb في (surrounded by) · ru в (into, towards) · wa e (indicating language, script, or tone) · nrf en (surrounded by) · syl ...-ꠧ (...-o) (contained by) · fa در (into, towards) · sco i (into, towards) · nb i (part or member of) · ka -ში (contained by) · el σε (contained by) · fa اندرون (into, towards) · cs v (surrounded by) · fr en (surrounded by) · ary في (surrounded by) · gd ann am (contained by) · rap i (contained by) · my မှာ (surrounded by) · cmn ...里 (contained by) · ru в (surrounded by) · sv in (into, towards) · dsb w (surrounded by) · sv under (during (a period of time)) · jv jero (contained by) · sk v (surrounded by) · nl in (surrounded by) · ga i gceann (after (a period of time)) · an adintro de (surrounded by) · nb i (pertaining to) · sv i (indicating a state) · nl in (during (a period of time)) · it in (contained by) · es en (contained by) · hi भीतर (contained by) · ca d'aquí a (within (a certain elapsed time)) · vec te (into, towards) · vec inte (into, towards) · et -s (contained by) · uk в (surrounded by) · ca en (contained by) · nl tijdens (during (a period of time)) · de in (contained by) · fr en (during (a period of time)) · bo རུ (contained by) · fi kuluttua (after (a period of time)) · cy yn (surrounded by) · hsb we (contained by) · my တွင် (during (a period of time)) · tr -ta (contained by) · ca d'aquí a (after (a period of time)) · pl w (contained by) · gd (a-steach) do (into, towards) · ro în (after (a period of time)) · gl deica (after (a period of time)) · th หน้า (after (a period of time)) · fr dans (into, towards) · uk во (surrounded by) · fr en (indicating language, script, or tone) · io en (pertaining to) · as -ে (-e) (contained by) · uk вві (surrounded by) · ms dalam (after (a period of time)) · ga as (indicating language, script, or tone) · as -ত (contained by) · ga i (part or member of) · lld te (contained by) · cy mewn (surrounded by) · ca durant (during (a period of time)) · mn дотор (contained by) · ru из (part or member of) · fr en (pertaining to) · is í (contained by) · cs ze (part or member of) · gl en (contained by) · mdh sa (contained by) · ca dintre (surrounded by) · ka -ში (into, towards) · nrf dans (after (a period of time)) · tr -ken (during (a period of time)) · cmn 在 (contained by) · tg дар (contained by) · et -s (surrounded by) · fi -ssä (contained by) · fi -ssa (pertaining to) · hy մեջ (into, towards) · sq në (during (a period of time)) · el σε (after (a period of time)) · grc εἰς (contained by) · it in (during (a period of time)) · arc גַּו (surrounded by) · ru по (pertaining to) · io en (during (a period of time)) · pt em (during (a period of time)) · fr dans (indicating a state) · jra amăng (contained by) · wa didins (contained by) · sco in (contained by) · ru через (within (a certain elapsed time)) · sco i (part or member of) · de im (during (a period of time)) · vec inte (contained by) · ga i (contained by) · gl en (after (a period of time)) · tr -a (into, towards) · fa از (part or member of) · tr sırasında (during (a period of time)) · my ၌ (contained by) · ang on (during (a period of time)) · ms pada (during (a period of time)) · an adintro de (into, towards) · pon nan (within (a certain elapsed time)) · hu -be (into, towards) · cs v (contained by) · fr dans (during (a period of time)) · hi में (indicating language, script, or tone) · nn på (indicating language, script, or tone) · su lebet (contained by) · he בְּתוֹך (contained by) · hu -val (indicating language, script, or tone) · tr -de (after (a period of time)) · uk ув (surrounded by) · ru в течение (during (a period of time)) · sv i (contained by) · vec fra (after (a period of time)) · an adintro de (contained by) · de in (within (a certain elapsed time)) · mrw san (contained by) · fr dans (surrounded by) · ar فِي (contained by) · ms ke dalam (into, towards) · nrf en (pertaining to) · es en (after (a period of time)) · it in (indicating a state) · hu -ül (indicating language, script, or tone) · nap into (contained by) · cmn 于……中 (surrounded by) · sk vo (contained by) · nv biiʼ (contained by) · fa تا (after (a period of time)) · lmy lari (contained by) · ro în (during (a period of time)) · hu -ben (contained by) · sv i (indicating language, script, or tone) · tr iken (during (a period of time)) · uz -da (contained by) · sk v (contained by) · id di dalam (contained by) · fi -ssa (during (a period of time)) · ps په (contained by) · la in (contained by) · bzj eena (contained by) · ang on (pertaining to) · pt em (contained by) · de in (after (a period of time)) · tr -tan (part or member of) · grc ἐν (contained by) · an dintro de (contained by) · cy yn (during (a period of time)) · hu -ban (during (a period of time)) · io en (part or member of) · ms di (surrounded by) · sw kwa (within (a certain elapsed time)) · nn i (pertaining to) · syl ꠜꠤꠔ꠆ꠞꠦ (contained by) · cs ve (contained by) · ko 안에 (within (a certain elapsed time)) · an aintro de (contained by) · bo ར (contained by) · pl w (part or member of) · ar مِن (part or member of) · fo í (surrounded by) · uk во (contained by) · ro în (indicating a state) · egy m (surrounded by) · fr dans (after (a period of time)) · pt em (into, towards) · uk у (surrounded by) · ca per (into, towards) · cs v (pertaining to) · hi अन्दर (contained by) · th ใน (contained by) · eo en (into, towards) · gd ann am (pertaining to) · fa اندر (into, towards) · tsg halam (contained by) · sco in (into, towards) · cs ve (surrounded by) · dsb we (after (a period of time)) · kmr ji (part or member of) · ta மத்தியில் (surrounded by) · it su (part or member of) · ca en (surrounded by) · ko ...에 (during (a period of time)) · nl in (after (a period of time)) · es a (into, towards) · aeb بَعْدْ (after (a period of time)) · nl in (indicating language, script, or tone) · pl po (indicating language, script, or tone) · fo í (into, towards) · uk ув (contained by) · ur بھیتر (contained by) · wa didins (surrounded by) · vi tại (contained by)
PIE word
*h₁en
Preposition and verb from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in.
Adverb, noun and adjective from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai.
Sense 1/2 "in"/"into" are from the original PIE prefix, with locative/accusative case respectively. Sense 3/4 "qualification"/"means" are from the PIE metaphor of all infinitives coming from locatives.
Meanings
(not-comparable) At or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.
He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in.
Would you like that to take away or eat in?
Suddenly a strange man walked in.
Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
(not-comparable) Towards the speaker or other reference point.
For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out.
They flew in from London last night.
(not-comparable) So as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.
Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in.
I was tired enough to snuggle in with the dogs on the couch and sleep there.
(not-comparable) After the beginning of something.
The Black Cats had a mountain to climb after James Morrison's header and Shane Long's neat side-foot finish gave Albion a 2-0 lead five minutes in. 2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2-2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in.
(after a verb, in-compounds, not-comparable) Denotes a gathering of people assembled for the stated activity, sometimes, though not always, suggesting a protest.
sing-in, pray-in, hug-in; see also be-in, love-in, sit-in, teach-in.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
i'
alternative, colloquial, poetic
lexicographic
Translations (33)
ca endins (moving to the interior) · fr à l'intérieur (moving to the interior) · it dentro (moving to the interior) · de herein (moving to the interior) · nl in (still able to play) · nl binnen (moving to the interior) · it dentro (still able to play) · ga isteach (moving to the interior) · an aintro (moving to the interior) · ang inn (moving to the interior) · fi pelissä (still able to play) · cs ve hře (still able to play) · sv in (moving to the interior) · pt para dentro (moving to the interior) · da ind (moving to the interior) · sco in (moving to the interior) · fa تو (moving to the interior) · hu be (moving to the interior) · fi sisään (moving to the interior) · an adintro (moving to the interior) · sco in (still able to play) · fa درون (moving to the interior) · ko 안으로 (moving to the interior) · sk dnu (moving to the interior) · no inn (moving to the interior) · de hinein (moving to the interior) · da inde (still able to play) · cs dovnitř (moving to the interior) · es hacia adentro (moving to the interior) · ce чу (moving to the interior) · ca endintre (moving to the interior) · fr dedans (moving to the interior) · gd a-steach (moving to the interior)
PIE word
*h₁en
Preposition and verb from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in.
Adverb, noun and adjective from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai.
Sense 1/2 "in"/"into" are from the original PIE prefix, with locative/accusative case respectively. Sense 3/4 "qualification"/"means" are from the PIE metaphor of all infinitives coming from locatives.
Meanings
A position of power or influence, or a way to get it.
Holleran's and White's diminishing capacities as writers does not affect their publishing ins': the writer the house knows is always better than the writer the house doesn't know. 1987 February 1, T. R. Witomski, “Zeitgeist or Poltergeist? Why Gay Books Are So Bad”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 28, page 9:
His parents got him an in with the company.
(in-plural) One who, or that which, is in; especially, one who is in office.
This memoir has nothing to do with the question between the ins and the outs; it is intended neither to support nor to assail the administration; it is general in its views upon a general and national subject; […] 1827, Benjamin Chew, A Sketch of the Politics, Relations, and Statistics, of the Western World, page 192:
The state of a batter/batsman who is currently batting; see innings.
PIE word
*h₁en
Preposition and verb from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in.
Adverb, noun and adjective from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai.
Sense 1/2 "in"/"into" are from the original PIE prefix, with locative/accusative case respectively. Sense 3/4 "qualification"/"means" are from the PIE metaphor of all infinitives coming from locatives.
Meanings
(obsolete, transitive) To enclose.
(obsolete, transitive) To take in; to harvest.
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop. c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
Although it has no dimensions, strain is usually expressed in units represented as ε, which is in/in or mm/mm. Since the magnitude of the measured strain is small, the standard practice is to use units of microstrain (µε), which is [ε x 10^-6]. (Can we date this quote?), “What is a Strain Gage?”, in Micro-Measurements, archived from the original on 13 Dec 2025:
At a length of 36cm (14in), the red-bellied piranha was a giant of its kind – more than eight inches longer than an average specimen. 2009 August 28, Alexandra Topping, “Giant piranha found in Devon river”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 27 Aug 2025:
Donaldson is not by any means one of God’s chosen entertainment-industry stars. He’s not especially handsome, and neither is he particularly funny-looking. At 6ft 5in, and with the sparse reddish beard he nowadays sports, he has the charmingly awkward aspect of a teen who has recently put on a growth spurt and hasn’t quite settled into himself. 2025 June 3, Mark O’Connell, “‘The Mozart of the attention economy’: why MrBeast is the world’s biggest YouTube star”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 07 Jun 2025: