input

1 of 2

noun

in·​put ˈin-ˌpu̇t 

1

: something that is put in: such as

a

: advice, opinion, comment

b

: information fed into a data processing system or computer

c

: power or energy put into a machine or system for storage, conversion in kind, or conversion of characteristics usually with the intent of sizable recovery in the form of output

d

: an amount put in

increased input of fertilizer increases crop yield

e

: a stimulus that acts on and is integrated into a bodily system

sensory input

f

: a component of production (such as land, labor, or raw materials)

2

: the means by which or the point at which an input (as of energy, material, or data) is made

3

: the act or process of putting in

input

2 of 2

verb

inputted or input; inputting

transitive verb

: to enter (data) into a computer or data processing system

Synonyms

Noun

• intake

Examples of input in a Sentence

Noun

I need your input on what to have for dinner.

She provided some valuable input at the start of the project.

The computer gets its input from a keyboard or mouse.

This VCR has several audio inputs.

The job will require a considerable input of money.

The data is ready for input into a computer.

Verb

She inputted the sales figures into the spreadsheet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When research questions originate from outside the community, where priorities may be different, formative research in collaboration with community input is essential so community priorities are considered and centered in the clinical trial design. —Oni Blackstock and Whitney C. Irie, STAT, 22 July 2024

Eventually, the seamstresses – with input from the students, McGriff, and others – designed their own solution, and the uniform that grows was born. —Kathleen Toner, CNN, 19 July 2024

Verb

Fans are able to manually input older games not already in the app’s system. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 16 July 2024

For the international Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, generative AI will be covered union work performed by a human and no crew member can be forced to input a prompt that would replace another crew member. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

input

1 of 2 noun

in·​put ˈin-ˌpu̇t 

1

: power, energy, a signal, or information put into a machine or system

2

: advice, comment

3

: a point at which an input is put in

4

: the act or process of putting in

input

2 of 2 verb

inputted or input; inputting

: to enter (as data) into a computer