(used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits): walking in the park.
(used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial): in politics; in the autumn.
(used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time): in ancient times; a task done in ten minutes.
(used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.): to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance.
(used to indicate means): sketched in ink; spoken in French.
(used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within) into: Let's go in the house.
(used to indicate transition from one state to another): to break in half.
(used to indicate object or purpose): speaking in honor of the event.
adverb
in or into some place, position, state, relation, etc.: Please come in.
on the inside; within.
in one's house or office.
in office or power.
in possession or occupancy.
having the turn to play, as in a game.
Baseball. (of an infielder or outfielder) in a position closer to home plate than usual; short: The third baseman played in, expecting a bunt.
on good terms; in favor: He's in with his boss, but he doubts it will last.
Informal. in vogue; in style: He says straw hats will be in this year.
in season: Watermelons will soon be in.
adjective
located or situated within; inner; internal: the in part of a mechanism.
Informal.
in favor with stylish or trendy people; currently popular:the in place to dine; the in thing to do.
keeping up with the latest trends and fashions: the in clique at school.
Informal. comprehensible only to a special or ultrasophisticated group: an in joke.
well-liked; included in a favored group.
inward; incoming; inbound: an in train.
plentiful; available.
being in power, authority, control, etc.: a member of the in party.
Golf. of or relating to the playing of the last nine holes of an eighteen-hole golf course (opposed to out): His in score on the second round was 34.
noun
Usually ins . persons in office or political power (distinguished from outs).
a member of the political party in power: The election made him an in.
pull or influence; a social advantage or connection: He's got an in with the senator.
(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).
verb (used with object),inned,in·ning.BritishDialect.
to enclose.
Idioms for in
be in for, to be bound to undergo something, especially a disagreeable experience: We are in for a long speech.
in for it, Slang. about to suffer chastisement or unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions or omissions: I forgot our anniversary again, and I'll be in for it now.Also British, for it.
in that, because; inasmuch as: In that you won't have time for supper, let me give you something now.
in with, on friendly terms with; familiar or associating with: They are in with all the important people.
Origin of in
First recorded before 900; 1925–30 for def. 29; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German, Dutch, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic in,Old Norse ī,Latin in,Greek en,Lithuanian į
Definition for in (2 of 10)
In
Symbol, Chemistry.
indium.
Definition for in (3 of 10)
IN
Indiana (approved especially for use with zip code).
Definition for in (4 of 10)
in-1
a prefix representing English in (income; indwelling; inland, etc.), but used also as a verb-formative with transitive, intensive, or sometimes little apparent force (intrust; inweave, etc.). It often assumes the same forms as in-2, such as en-1, em-1, im-3.
Origin of in-
1
Middle English, Old English; see in
Definition for in (5 of 10)
in-2
a prefix of Latin origin meaning primarily “in,” but used also as a verb-formative with the same force as in-1 (incarcerate; incantation).
Also il-, im-, ir-.
Compare em-1, en-1.
Origin of in-
2
From Latin, combining form of in (preposition); cognate with in
Definition for in (6 of 10)
in-3
a prefix of Latin origin, corresponding to English un-, having a negative or privative force, freely used as an English formative, especially 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-.
Origin of in-
3
<Latin; akin to an-1, a-6, un-1
synonym study for in-
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.
Definition for in (7 of 10)
-in1
a suffix, occurring in adjectives of Greek and Latin origin, meaning “pertaining to,” and (in nouns thence derived) also imitated in English (coffin; cousin, etc.).
Origin of -in
1
Middle English -in, -ine<Old French <Latin -inus, -ina, -inum<Greek -inos, -inē, -inon
Definition for in (8 of 10)
-in2
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.
Origin of -in
2
<New Latin -ina.See -ine2
Definition for in (9 of 10)
-in3
a suffixal use of the adverb in, extracted from sit-in, forming compound nouns, usually from verbs, referring to organized protests through or in support of the named activity (kneel-in;chain-in;be-in) or, more generally, to any organized social or cultural activity (cook-in;sing-in).
at a place where there islying in the shade; walking in the rain
indicating a state, situation, or conditionin a deep sleep; standing in silence
before or when (a period of time) has elapsedcome back in one year
using (a language, etc) as a means of communicationwritten in code
concerned or involved with, esp as an occupationin journalism
expressing a ratio, proportion, or probabilityone in five boys
while or by performing the action of; as a consequence of or by means ofin crossing the street he was run over
used to indicate goal or purposein honour of the president
(used of certain animals) about to give birth to; pregnant with (specified offspring)in foal; in calf
a variant of into she fell in the water; he tore the paper in two
have it in one(often foll by an infinitive)to have the ability (to do something)
in itAustralianinformaljoining in; taking part
in thatorin so far as(conjunction)because or to the extent that; inasmuch asI regret my remark in that it upset you
nothing in itno difference or interval between two things
adverb(particle)
in or into a particular place; inward or indoorscome in; bring him in
so as to achieve office, power, or authoritythe Conservatives got in at the last election
so as to encloseblock in; cover in a hole
(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 inningsyou have to get the other side out before you go in
British(of a fire) alightdo you keep the fire in all night?
(in combination)indicating an activity or gathering, esp one organized to protest against somethingteach-in; work-in
in atpresent at (the beginning, end, etc)
in betweenbetween
in forabout to be affected by (something, esp something unpleasant)you're in for a shock
in onacquainted with or sharing inI was in on all his plans
in withassociated with; friendly with; regarded highly by
have it in fororhave got it in forinformalto wish or intend harm towards
adjective
(stressed)fashionable; modishthe in thing to do
NZcompetingyou've got to be in to win
noun
ins and outsintricacies or complications; detailsthe ins and outs of a computer system
Word Origin for in
Old English; compare Old High German in, Welsh yn, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek en