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
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
Security camera footage from Awful Arthur's Seafood in Salem, Virginia captured the shocking moment the wild deer came tumbling into the restaurant, scattering the shattered glass door.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 5 Nov. 2023
White starred as Alan McCarthy in Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band, which opened off-Broadway at Theater Four in April 1968.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2023
Wilson, who is a port commissioner in Longview, also planned to meet with counterparts at the port of Shanghai, one of the biggest in the world.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2023
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
Then again, any big city is becoming tougher and tougher to shoot in.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023
Settle in for standout pies such as the squash pizza, which layers ricotta, pesto, and garlic confit on a sourdough crust.
—Cameron Quincy Todd, Saveur, 15 Nov. 2023
But nowhere is this more true than on the second Sunday of every month at the Rose Bowl Flea, where thousands of shoppers flood in from disparate corners of L.A. County (and beyond) in a quest to see, be seen and buy.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
Fall, football, and chili: the classic trifecta beloved for cozy Sundays in.
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
Heather Haynie, co-owner of Rock Paper Scissors stationery store in Charlottesville, Va., had inventory shipped in sooner and put out holiday items earlier this year -- at the beginning of October rather than mid-month.
—Mae Anderson The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 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
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
Around back, the motherboard includes many USB ports (one 10Gbps USB-C, two 5Gbps USB-A, and two legacy USB 2.0) and a trio of 3.5mm audio jacks (microphone, line-in, and line-out).
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 9 Sep. 2023
See More
Preposition
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
Security camera footage from Awful Arthur's Seafood in Salem, Virginia captured the shocking moment the wild deer came tumbling into the restaurant, scattering the shattered glass door.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 5 Nov. 2023
White starred as Alan McCarthy in Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band, which opened off-Broadway at Theater Four in April 1968.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2023
Wilson, who is a port commissioner in Longview, also planned to meet with counterparts at the port of Shanghai, one of the biggest in the world.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2023
Adverb
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
Then again, any big city is becoming tougher and tougher to shoot in.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 15 Nov. 2023
Settle in for standout pies such as the squash pizza, which layers ricotta, pesto, and garlic confit on a sourdough crust.
—Cameron Quincy Todd, Saveur, 15 Nov. 2023
But nowhere is this more true than on the second Sunday of every month at the Rose Bowl Flea, where thousands of shoppers flood in from disparate corners of L.A. County (and beyond) in a quest to see, be seen and buy.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
Fall, football, and chili: the classic trifecta beloved for cozy Sundays in.
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
Heather Haynie, co-owner of Rock Paper Scissors stationery store in Charlottesville, Va., had inventory shipped in sooner and put out holiday items earlier this year -- at the beginning of October rather than mid-month.
—Mae Anderson The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 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
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
Around back, the motherboard includes many USB ports (one 10Gbps USB-C, two 5Gbps USB-A, and two legacy USB 2.0) and a trio of 3.5mm audio jacks (microphone, line-in, and line-out).
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 9 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 28 Nov. 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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