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

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

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

Jordan once fired on a small hut suspected of shooting down a U.S. helicopter and later learned that women and children were among the dead inside, a revelation that always haunted him, even though his actions were found to be legal, the clemency petition said. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 27 June 2025

With one out and nobody on base, Padres starter Randy Vásquez threw an inside, knee-high heater for ball one, brushing Ohtani back off the plate. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025

Adverb

There's also a 10 MP selfie camera on the cover and another inside. —ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025

The cover has a zipper enclosure that keeps your duvet protected, and inside, there are eight corner ties to prevent the duvet from sliding around throughout the night. —Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 9 July 2025

Adjective

An inside look As a workshop facilitator for over a year and a half, Donald Jones III serves as one of many resources that individuals who attend Great Jobs KC workshops need. —Ramal Nasim updated July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2025

His pass protection can get choppy at times, though, against athletic inside rushers. —Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Preposition

Caylee’s body was discovered two months later inside a laundry bag in a wooded area near the Anthony family home in Florida, while authorities said traces of chloroform and human decomposition were found in the truck of Anthony’s car. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025

Each week, Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves will weigh in on the latest events inside the house. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 11 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1611, 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