inside

1 of 4

noun

in·​side (ˌ)in-ˈsīd  ˈin-ˌsīd 

1

a

: an interior or internal part or place : the part within

b

: inward nature, thoughts, or feeling

c

: viscera, entrails

—usually used in plural

2

: an inner side or surface

3

a

: a position of power, trust, or familiarity

only someone on the inside could have told

b

: confidential information

has the inside on what happened at the convention

4

: the area nearest a specified or implied point of reference: such as

a

: the side of home plate nearest the batter

b

: the middle portion of a playing area

c

: the area near or underneath the basket in basketball

inside

2 of 4

adverb

1

: on the inner side

2

: in or into the interior

stayed inside during the storm

3

: to or on the inside

4

: in prison

inside

3 of 4

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being on or near the inside

an inside pitch

2

a

: relating or known to a select group

inside information

an inside joke

b

: behind-the-scenes

inside

4 of 4

preposition

1

a

: in or into or as if in or into the interior of

waited inside the church

b

: on the inner side of

just inside the door

2

: within

inside an hour

Synonyms of inside

Noun

• interior
• within

Adjective

• confidential
• private
• secret
• hidden
• classified

Examples of inside in a Sentence

Noun

The inside of the church is quite beautiful.

I've never seen the inside of a computer before.

Adverb

I cleaned my car inside and out.

The candy is chewy inside.

We went inside during the storm.

Step inside and look at our menu.

He got put inside for burglary.

Adjective

the inside edge of her foot

He gave us an inside view of the situation.

I got the inside story from a friend who works there.

Preposition

We waited inside the store.

Several people were trapped inside the burning building.

She kept her hands inside her pockets.

His feelings were building up inside him.

He lives inside the city limits.

Sources inside the company indicate that there are disagreements about the change in management.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Female flies bore into the fig to lay their eggs, which hatch out as larvae inside the fruit and eat the unripe insides before burrowing their way out. — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Put the key inside, close the pouch and stand next to the car. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026

Adverb

The rooms Those heart-melting pastel colors that glow as Venice and her lagoon move from daytime into evening have been collated here in room decor, which brings the outdoors inside and folds it into midcentury-modern style and comfort. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

The aperture door at the top of the telescope opens, affording a view of the secondary mirror assembly inside. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The district said the campus was locked down immediately after the shooting, with students and staff secured inside classrooms and the front office while police responded. — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

Cells become damaged by oxidative stress, waste products build up inside tissues, and over time these changes can stiffen the heart, disrupt electrical signaling and reduce the organ’s ability to pump blood efficiently. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Preposition

As daylight faded, visitors explored inside the grand hall and wandered the gardens before the night ended with hot air balloon rides and fireworks over the property. — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

During the 2026 World Cup, Hyperice operated largely outside official stadium spotlight, building recovery suites inside team hotels across North America. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing inside

• deep down (inside)
• inside address
• inside baseball
• inside job
• inside joke
• inside of
• inside out
• inside the door
• inside track
• inside voice
• know something inside and out
• know something inside out
• on the inside
• the inside
• the inside dope
• the inside scoop
• the inside/straight/real skinny
• the inside track
• turn (something) inside out

Rhymes for inside

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

inside

1 of 4 noun

in·​side (ˈ)in-ˈsīd  ˈin-ˌsīd 

1

: an inner side or surface

2

a

: an interior or internal part

b

: inward nature, thoughts, or feeling

c

: entrails

—usually used in plural

inside

2 of 4 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being on or near the inside

an inside wall

2

: relating or known to a special group of people

inside information

inside

3 of 4 preposition

1

a

: in or into the interior of

they are inside the house

b

: on the inner side of

put the dot inside the curve

2

: before the end of : within

inside an hour

inside

4 of 4 adverb

1

: on the inside

the car is clean inside

2

: in or into the interior

went inside