in
preposition /ɪn/
/ɪn/
For the special uses of in in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example deal in something is in the phrasal verb section at deal.Idioms - at a point within an area or a space
- a country in Africa
- The kids were playing in the street.
- It's in that drawer.
- I read about it in the paper.
- within the shape of something; surrounded by something
- She was lying in bed.
- sitting in an armchair
- Leave the key in the lock.
- Soak it in cold water.
- into something
- He dipped his brush in the paint.
- She got in her car and drove off.
- forming the whole or part of something/somebody; contained within something/somebody
- There are 31 days in May.
- all the paintings in the collection
- I recognize his father in him (= his character is similar to his father's).
- during a period of time
- in 2021
- in the 18th century
- in spring/summer/autumn/winter
- in the fall
- in March
- in the morning/afternoon/evening
- I'm getting forgetful in my old age.
- after a particular length of time
- to return in a few minutes/hours/days/months.
- It will be ready in a week's time (= one week from now).
- She learnt to drive in three weeks (= after three weeks she could drive).
- (used in negative sentences or after first, last, etc.) for a particular period of time
- I haven't seen him in years.
- It's the first letter I've had in ten days.
- wearing something
- dressed in their best clothes
- the man in the hat
- to be in uniform
- She was all in black.
- used to describe something that is all around you
- We went out in the rain.
- He was sitting alone in the darkness.
- used to show the language, material, etc. used
- Say it in English.
- She wrote in pencil.
- Put it in writing.
- I paid in cash.
- He spoke in a loud voice.
- used to show a state or condition
- I'm in love!
- The house is in good repair.
- I must put my affairs in order.
- a man in his thirties
- The daffodils were in full bloom.
- involved in something; taking part in something
- to act in a play
- used to show somebody’s job or profession
- He is in the army.
- She's in computers.
- in business
- used to show the form, shape, arrangement or quantity of something
- a novel in three parts
- Roll it up in a ball.
- They sat in rows.
- People flocked in their thousands to see her.
- used to show the quality or thing that a judgement is being made about
- She was not lacking in courage.
- a country rich in minerals
- three metres in length
- while doing something; while something is happening
- In attempting to save the child from drowning, she nearly lost her own life.
- In all the commotion I forgot to tell him the news.
- used to introduce the name of a person who has a particular quality
- We're losing a first-rate editor in Jen.
- used to show a rate or relative amount
- a gradient of one in five
- a tax rate of 22 pence in the pound
Word OriginOld English in (preposition), inn, inne (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German in (preposition), German ein (adverb), from an Indo-European root shared by Latin in and Greek en.
Idioms
in that
/ˈɪn ðət/
/ˈɪn ðət/
- (formal) for the reason that; because
- She was fortunate in that she had friends to help her.