ˈin 
ən,
ᵊn
1
a
—used as a function word to indicate inclusion, location, or position within limits
in the lake
wounded in the leg
in the summer
b
: into sense 1
went in the house
2
—used as a function word to indicate means, medium, or instrumentality
written in pencil
bound in leather
3
a
—used as a function word to indicate limitation, qualification, or circumstance
alike in some respects
left in a hurry
b
: into sense 4a
broke in pieces
4
—used as a function word to indicate purpose
said in reply
5
—used as a function word to indicate the larger member of a ratio
one in six is eligible
1
a(1)
: to or toward the inside especially of a house or other building
come in
(2)
: to or toward some destination or particular place
flew in on the first plane
(3)
: at close quarters : near
play close in
b
: so as to incorporate
mix in the flour
—often used in combinationbuilt-in bookcases
c
: to or at an appropriate place
fit a piece in
2
a
: within a particular place
especially
: within the customary place of residence or business
the doctor is in
b
: in the position of participant, insider, or officeholder
—often used with on
in on the joke
c(1)
: on good terms
(2)
: in a specified relation
in bad with the boss
(3)
: in a position of assured or definitive success
d
: in vogue or season
e
of an oil well
: in production
f
: in one's presence, possession, or control
after the crops are in
g
: from a condition of indistinguishability to one of clarity
fade in
1
a
: that is located inside or within
the in part
b
: that is in position, operation, or power
the in party
c
2
: that is directed or bound inward : incoming
the in train
3
a
: extremely fashionable
the in thing to do
b
: keenly aware of and responsive to what is new and fashionable
the in crowd
1
inch
2
inlet
indium
Indiana
variants
or il-
or im-
or ir-
variants
or il-
or im-
or ir-
1
: in : within : into : toward : on
—usually il- before l
illuviation
, im- before b, m, or pimmingle
, ir- before rirradiance
, and in- before other soundsinfiltrate
2
: en- entry 1
imbrute
imperil
inspirit
1
a
: neutral chemical compound
insulin
b
: enzyme
pancreatin
c
: antibiotic
penicillin
2
: -ine entry 2 sense 1a
epinephrin
3
: pharmaceutical product
niacin
: organized public protest by means of or in favor of : demonstration
teach-in
love-in
Synonyms
Preposition
Adverb
Adjective
- à la mode
- a la mode
- au courant
- chic
- cool [slang]
- exclusive
- fashionable
- fresh [slang]
- happening
- hip
- modish
- sharp
- smart
- snappy
- stylish
- supercool
- swell
- swish
- trendy
- voguish
Noun
Examples of in in a Sentence
Preposition
Don't come in here with those muddy feet!
drawn on the wall in crayon
Adverb
She went in and closed the door.
I lost my keys and now I can't get in.
The burglars broke in through the kitchen window.
The pool is deep. Be careful not to fall in.
The boss called us in for a conference.
The fog was closing in fast.
Get your orders in early!
Is the train in yet?
Adjective
the in thing to do
the in place to go
It's what the in crowd is wearing this season.
Noun
When you're trying to get started in show business, it helps to have an in.
They must have an in with the boss.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023
Varadkar urged people not to connect crime in Ireland with migration, noting that criminals come from all backgrounds.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2023
And the little doll's dress changes color in different temperatures which is honestly pretty cute.
—Condé Nast, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2023
Her body was found in her home Tuesday by her daughter, according to the station.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
Siskel died in 1999, and Ebert bowed out in 2011, two years before his death.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
For the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain, the pop star opted to turn heads with the help of brows on a new generation of fleek, each feathered and segmented to artful effect.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023
May this map serve as a call for every struggle to act in their own interest.
—Adam Sabes, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2023
As detailed in a new study published in Nature Medicine, Rogers and fellow researchers placed a miniature battery, electronics, Bluetooth relay, flash memory drive, and two microphones within a 40mm long, 20mm wide, and 8 mm thick soft silicone casing—roughly the size of a stick of gum.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023
David Axe, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
If there are pressures that are in there holding up the star, what are those pressures?
—Swapna Krishna, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2023
Both teams then rushed in, and fights broke out everywhere.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
At 72 feet in, the machines started to make the mountain shake and vibrate.
—Shams Irfan, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2023
Many of those retirees were able to step right in and do the job without lag time for training because of previous experience.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
As the men raised their homemade flags and called for liberation, more than 100 other Koreans joined in.
—Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
But for series three of Starstruck, there’s a lot of flourishes in there, like a Vangelis solo on top of a jazz piano piece.
—Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Pitchfork, 16 Nov. 2023
Consider the small towns of Sonoma County, where new businesses are doing big things; a remote corner of Australia, where expedition ships are the way in; a Himalayan hideaway where visitors are left breathless and not just because of the altitude.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2023
But on their in-state routes, Alaska Air is the only option.
—Scott McMurren, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Jan. 2023
Abby is famously swole, and her in-game body was based on Colleen Fotsch, a CrossFit star.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2023
And on an individual level are players such Riley Mahlman and Kaden Johnson, highly-touted prospects from Minnesota who declined the chance to play for their in-state school and joined forces with its oldest rival.
—Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 23 Nov. 2022
While SeatGeek immediately shows the all-in price on its website, on its mobile app, the company only shows fees immediately if customers turn the filter on, but that filter button isn’t visible without scrolling.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2022
Taxes on the homes are additional, but the all-in cost is lower than land-lease parks.
—Scott Burns, Dallas News, 24 Apr. 2022
Yumi customers also get exclusive access to its in-house team of experts, including pediatricians and nutritionists, to offer support along your food journey.
—Stefani Sassos, Good Housekeeping, 30 Dec. 2022
This year, earmarks comprise more than half of the additional $103 million the agency received for its in-house research account and nearly one-quarter of NIST’s overall budget of $1.6 billion.
—Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 29 Dec. 2022
Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 22 Nov. 2023
Monthslong protests led by Christian evangelicals galvanized a conservative pushback against Ms. Park’s progressive successor, Moon Jae-in, and helped Mr. Yoon win election as a conservative candidate in 2022.
—Choe Sang-Hun Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
But after Butler was appointed earlier this month, Lee stood by her side during a ceremonial swearing-in.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
There were no Black women currently serving in the Senate prior to Butler's swearing-in.
—Riley Hoffman, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2023
Ingredients 1 large sweet potato (about 12 oz.), peeled and cut into 1/2-in.
—Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2023
Avid outdoor cyclists opt for clipless (confusingly, also called clip-in) pedals, which require riders to essentially snap themselves into the pedals.
—Heather Mayer Irvine, wsj.com, 13 Oct. 2023
Price at time of publish: $699 Product Details: Capacity: 13 place settings | Racks: Three | Noise Level: 47 dBA | Energy Consumption: 270 kilowatt hours per year | Cycles: Five
Best Smart
Miele Top Control 24-in.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2023
Demolition was set to begin in June 2024, with construction scheduled for September 2024 and move-in in September 2026, UCLA officials said.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
See More
Preposition
The number of suicides in the United States has hit a record high, new provisional federal data shows.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023
Varadkar urged people not to connect crime in Ireland with migration, noting that criminals come from all backgrounds.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2023
And the little doll's dress changes color in different temperatures which is honestly pretty cute.
—Condé Nast, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2023
Her body was found in her home Tuesday by her daughter, according to the station.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
Siskel died in 1999, and Ebert bowed out in 2011, two years before his death.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
For the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain, the pop star opted to turn heads with the help of brows on a new generation of fleek, each feathered and segmented to artful effect.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023
May this map serve as a call for every struggle to act in their own interest.
—Adam Sabes, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2023
As detailed in a new study published in Nature Medicine, Rogers and fellow researchers placed a miniature battery, electronics, Bluetooth relay, flash memory drive, and two microphones within a 40mm long, 20mm wide, and 8 mm thick soft silicone casing—roughly the size of a stick of gum.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023
Adverb
The explosive drone speeded in from its holding position.
—David Axe, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
If there are pressures that are in there holding up the star, what are those pressures?
—Swapna Krishna, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2023
Both teams then rushed in, and fights broke out everywhere.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
At 72 feet in, the machines started to make the mountain shake and vibrate.
—Shams Irfan, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2023
Many of those retirees were able to step right in and do the job without lag time for training because of previous experience.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
As the men raised their homemade flags and called for liberation, more than 100 other Koreans joined in.
—Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
But for series three of Starstruck, there’s a lot of flourishes in there, like a Vangelis solo on top of a jazz piano piece.
—Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Pitchfork, 16 Nov. 2023
Consider the small towns of Sonoma County, where new businesses are doing big things; a remote corner of Australia, where expedition ships are the way in; a Himalayan hideaway where visitors are left breathless and not just because of the altitude.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Southland Prep celebrates at ‘All-In’ college rally Southland College Prep Charter High School in Richton Park recently celebrated for the tenth consecutive year that all members of its senior class have been accepted to college.
—Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2023
But on their in-state routes, Alaska Air is the only option.
—Scott McMurren, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Jan. 2023
Abby is famously swole, and her in-game body was based on Colleen Fotsch, a CrossFit star.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2023
And on an individual level are players such Riley Mahlman and Kaden Johnson, highly-touted prospects from Minnesota who declined the chance to play for their in-state school and joined forces with its oldest rival.
—Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 23 Nov. 2022
While SeatGeek immediately shows the all-in price on its website, on its mobile app, the company only shows fees immediately if customers turn the filter on, but that filter button isn’t visible without scrolling.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2022
Taxes on the homes are additional, but the all-in cost is lower than land-lease parks.
—Scott Burns, Dallas News, 24 Apr. 2022
Yumi customers also get exclusive access to its in-house team of experts, including pediatricians and nutritionists, to offer support along your food journey.
—Stefani Sassos, Good Housekeeping, 30 Dec. 2022
This year, earmarks comprise more than half of the additional $103 million the agency received for its in-house research account and nearly one-quarter of NIST’s overall budget of $1.6 billion.
—Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 29 Dec. 2022
Noun
Drive ins, Sonic, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf are good bets.
—Lauren Joseph, Bon Appétit, 22 Nov. 2023
Monthslong protests led by Christian evangelicals galvanized a conservative pushback against Ms. Park’s progressive successor, Moon Jae-in, and helped Mr. Yoon win election as a conservative candidate in 2022.
—Choe Sang-Hun Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
But after Butler was appointed earlier this month, Lee stood by her side during a ceremonial swearing-in.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023
There were no Black women currently serving in the Senate prior to Butler's swearing-in.
—Riley Hoffman, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2023
Ingredients 1 large sweet potato (about 12 oz.), peeled and cut into 1/2-in.
—Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2023
Avid outdoor cyclists opt for clipless (confusingly, also called clip-in) pedals, which require riders to essentially snap themselves into the pedals.
—Heather Mayer Irvine, wsj.com, 13 Oct. 2023
Price at time of publish: $699 Product Details: Capacity: 13 place settings | Racks: Three | Noise Level: 47 dBA | Energy Consumption: 270 kilowatt hours per year | Cycles: Five
Best Smart
Miele Top Control 24-in.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2023
Demolition was set to begin in June 2024, with construction scheduled for September 2024 and move-in in September 2026, UCLA officials said.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Preposition
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German in in, Latin in, Greek en
Prefix (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin; akin to Old English un-
Prefix (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin, from in in, into
Noun suffix
French -ine, from Latin -īna, feminine of -īnus of or belonging to — more at -en
Noun combining form
sit-in
First Known Use
Preposition
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Adjective
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of in was
before the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near in
Cite this Entry
“In.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
in
1 of 6 preposition
(ˈ)in
ən,
ᵊn
1
a
—used to show enclosing, including, or placing within limits
in the lake
wounded in the leg
in the summer
in a minute
b
: into sense 1a
went in the house
don't come in here with those muddy feet
2
—used to show means or medium
written in pencil
works in plastics
photographs in color
3
a
—used to show a state or condition
we're in trouble
is made in three sizes
in power
in love
b
: into sense 2a
broke in pieces
4
—used to show manner or purpose
said in reply
5
—used to show the larger member of a ratio
one in five
in
2 of 6 adverb1
a
: to or toward the inside
went in and closed the door
b
: to or toward a place
flew in yesterday
c
: so as to be or seem near
play close in
d
: into the midst of something
mix in the flour
e
: to or at its proper place
fit a piece in
f
: so as to be in agreement
fell in with our plans
2
a
: on the inner side : within
everyone is in
b
: on good terms
in with the right people
c
: in fashion
boots are in this year
d
: at hand : on hand
the evidence was in
harvests are in
in-
5 of 6 prefix
variants
or il-
or im-
or ir-
1
: in : within : into : toward : on
—usually il- before l, im- before b, m, or p, ir- before r, and in- before other sounds
infiltrate
2
: en- sense 2
imperil
-in
6 of 6 noun suffixən
: chemical compound
stearin
insulin
niacin
Etymology
Prefix
derived from Latin in- "not"
Prefix
derived from Latin in "in, into"
Noun suffix
derived from Latin -ina, -inus (adjective suffixes)
Medical Definition
in
1 of 2 abbreviation
inch
In
2 of 2 symbol
indium
Legal Definition
in
preposition
: under the law of : based on
brought an action in negligence—National Law Journal
National Law Journal
More from Merriam-Webster on in
Nglish: Translation of in for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of in for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about in
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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