in

preposition

\ ˈin

, ən, ᵊn\

Definition of in

(Entry 1 of 11)

1a —used as a function word to indicate inclusion, location, or position within limits in the lakewounded in the legin the summer

b : into sense 1 went in the house

2 —used as a function word to indicate means, medium, or instrumentality written in pencilbound in leather

3a —used as a function word to indicate limitation, qualification, or circumstance alike in some respectsleft in a hurry

b : into sense 2a 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

adverb

\ ˈin

Definition of in (Entry 2 of 11)

1a(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 combination built-in bookcases

c : to or at an appropriate place fit a piece in

2a : 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

in for

: certain to experience in for a rude awakening

adjective

\ ˈin

Definition of in (Entry 3 of 11)

1a : that is located inside or within the in part

b : that is in position, operation, or power the in party

c : inside sense 2

2 : that is directed or bound inward : incoming the in train

3a : extremely fashionable the in thing to do

b : keenly aware of and responsive to what is new and fashionable the in crowd

noun

\ ˈin

Definition of in (Entry 4 of 11)

1 : one who is in office or power or on the inside a matter of ins versus outs

2 : influence, pull enjoyed some sort of in with the commandant— Henriette Roosenburg

abbreviation (1)

Definition of in (Entry 5 of 11)

1 inch

2 inlet

symbol

Definition of In (Entry 6 of 11)

indium

abbreviation (2)

Definition of IN (Entry 7 of 11)

Indiana

in-

prefix (1)

variants: or il- or im- or ir-

Definition of in- (Entry 8 of 11)

: not : non-, un- —usually il- before l illogical , im- before b, m, or p imbalanceimmoralimpractical , ir- before r irreducible , and in- before other sounds inconclusive

in-

prefix (2)

variants: or il- or im- or ir-

Definition of in- (Entry 9 of 11)

1 : in : within : into : toward : on —usually il- before l illuviation , im- before b, m, or p immingle , ir- before r irradiance , and in- before other sounds infiltrate

2 : en- entry 1 imbrute imperil inspirit

-in

noun suffix

Definition of -in (Entry 10 of 11)

1a : neutral chemical compound insulin

b : enzyme pancreatin

c : antibiotic penicillin

2 : -ine entry 2 sense 1a epinephrin

3 : pharmaceutical product niacin

-in

noun combining form

Definition of -in (Entry 11 of 11)

: organized public protest by means of or in favor of : demonstration teach-in love-in

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about in

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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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, however, didn't walk in with them. — Lindsay Schallon, Glamour, "Kate Middleton Had a Sweet Moment With the Queen at Easter Service," 21 Apr. 2019 Walk in and pick out a plush toy for the cost of your child's age. — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, "Build-a-Bear shuts down single-day 'Pay Your Age' sale: It was so successful, it failed," 12 July 2018 This Time, Maguire Misses Off a corner, the ball bounces dangerously around the Sweden box before Harry Maguire rushes in to shoot. — Andrew Keh, New York Times, "England Takes Another Step Toward Bringing ‘It’ Home," 8 July 2018 The second-year forward has been prone to blend in during games. — Jason Jones, sacbee, "How the Kings' Justin Jackson stood out in a California Classic loss to the Warriors," 3 July 2018 Should the Pacers slow play their hand and try to get a bargain or go all-in immediately? — J. Michael, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: 5 reasonable free-agent targets for Pacers as roster will begin to take shape," 29 June 2018 There is no existing federal law allowing legislators to show up unannounced and walk in. — Dan Sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Should federal facilities be required to allow inspections by members of Congress?," 19 June 2018 Many of them were shot in and around her famous blue house and studio in Casa Azul, Mexico. — Lillian Dondero, ELLE Decor, "Fashionably Late: An Editor's Take on the Frida Kahlo Exhibit in Brooklyn," 27 Mar. 2019 If your best friend calls you to talk about something that is bothering her, resist joining in and asking questions that encourage her to recount every little detail. — Samantha Boardman, Marie Claire, "How Venting Can Backfire And Make You Feel Worse," 12 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Andre Roberson's injury has hurt them worse than anyone could have imagined, and suddenly the all-in bet on one year of George is becoming a more sobering proposition. — Andrew Sharp, SI.com, "The Year of Stress in the Western Conference," 9 Mar. 2018 But this latest test suggests that the United States may already be in range as well, and that, as one former top American intelligence official noted recently, would put enormous pressure on American missile defenses that few trust to work. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "Trump looks east for new foreign policy," 5 July 2017 But this latest test suggests that the United States may already be in range as well, and that, as one former top American intelligence official noted recently, would put enormous pressure on American missile defenses that few trust to work. — David E. Sanger, New York Times, "What Can Trump Do About North Korea? His Options Are Few and Risky," 4 July 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Now, add-ins are coming to the right-hand rail of Google’s G Suite apps, too. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "5 Google G Suite changes that will improve your life," 11 Apr. 2019 Coat 2 mini loaf pans (6 in. by 3½ in.) with nonstick cooking spray. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Divinity Candy," 7 Mar. 2019 If only Sega had gotten the memo before releasing the Iron Man and Incredible Hulk movie tie-ins! — Michael Thompson, Ars Technica, "Drawn together: The love affair between comics and games," 24 Dec. 2018 As the only Republican contender and the incumbent, Knight is a shoe-in for one of those top-two spots in the primary. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "How a volcano scientist set out to change American politics," 7 June 2018 Most of the products unveiled by Facebook are quite clearly stand-ins for services that exist outside of it: Facebook Marketplace for Craigslist, Facebook Stories for Snapchat, the abandoned Facebook Instant Articles for Google News, and so on. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Instagram's New Shopping Feature Makes it Easier Than Ever to Never Leave Facebook," 20 Mar. 2019 On December 10, there was another sit-in in Pelosi’s office, this time with activists stretched out the door. — David Roberts, Vox, "The Green New Deal, explained," 21 Dec. 2018 As the Sutro neighbors predicted in their fight against the drive-ins, foggy nights impacted the economics. — Peter Hartlaub, SFChronicle.com, "SF almost had a Sutro Drive-In in 1950, and more local outdoor movie history," 13 July 2018 This year, there was no shortage of popping twist-outs, fluffy 'fros, bright wigs, perfectly blended sew-ins, gorgeous locs, and intricate braids. — refinery29.com, "Half A Million People Went To Essence Festival — & These 25 Looks Stood Out," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'in.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of in

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

History and Etymology for in

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

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Learn More about in

Dictionary Entries near in

impx

imu

I must love you and leave you

-in

in-

Statistics for in

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for in

The first known use of in was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

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More Definitions for in

preposition

English Language Learners Definition of in

(Entry 1 of 4)

—used to indicate location or position within something

: to the inside of (a room, container, etc.)

—used to indicate that someone or something belongs to or is included as part of something

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of in (Entry 2 of 4)

: to or toward the inside of something (such as a building)

: to or toward a place

: at the place where someone or something arrives after traveling

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of in (Entry 3 of 4)

: popular or fashionable

: aware of and strongly influenced by what is new and fashionable

noun

English Language Learners Definition of in (Entry 4 of 4)

chiefly US, informal : a way of becoming involved in something or of influencing someone

See the full definition for in in the English Language Learners Dictionary

preposition

\ ˈin

, ən\

Kids Definition of in

(Entry 1 of 7)

1 : located or positioned within The house is in the country.

2 : into sense 1 We ran in the house.

3 : during It's warmer in the summer.

4 : with sense 2 I wrote in pencil.

5 —used to show a state or condition You're in luck!We're in trouble.

6 —used to show manner or purpose I'm in a hurry.He laughed in reply.

7 : into sense 2 It broke in pieces.

adverb

\ ˈin

Kids Definition of in (Entry 2 of 7)

1 : to or toward the inside I went in and closed the door.

2 : to or toward some particular place We flew in yesterday.

3 : near entry 1 sense 1 Play close in.

4 : into the midst of something Mix in the flour.

5 : to or at its proper place Can you fit this piece in?

6 : on the inner side : within Everyone is in.

7 : present and available for use All the votes are in.

in for

: sure to experience He was in for a surprise.

adjective

\ ˈin

Kids Definition of in (Entry 3 of 7)

1 : being inside or within the in part

2 : headed or bound inward the in train

3 : fashionable

in.

abbreviation

Kids Definition of in.

inch

abbreviation

Kids Definition of IN

Indiana

in-

prefix

variants: or il- or im- or ir-

Kids Definition of in-

(Entry 1 of 7)

: not : non-, un- —usually il- before l illogical , im- before b, m, or p immoralimpractical , ir- before r irreconcilable and in- before other sounds incomplete

in-

prefix

variants: or il- or im- or ir-

Kids Definition of in- (Entry 2 of 7)

1 : in : within : into : toward : on —usually il- before l illuminate , im- before b, m, or p import , ir- before r irradiate , and in- before other sounds infect

2 : en- sense 2 imperil