inside

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noun in·side \ (ˌ)in-ˈsīd , ˈin-ˌsīd \

Definition of inside

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

See inside defined for English-language learners

See inside defined for kids

Examples of inside in a Sentence

The inside of the church is quite beautiful.
I've never seen the inside of a computer before.

Recent Examples of inside from the Web

On the inside, Konrad is likely to rotate at nose tackle with junior Louis Menacho, while Zach Kejmar, a senior, is slated at the other tackle spot.

— grant gordon, Glendale News-Press, "Experienced St. Francis football looks to stay a little longer in 2017," 29 Aug. 2017
That fall, the Pennsylvania Assembly appointed him its clerk, which put him on the inside of the colony’s politics for the first time.

— stephen coss, Smithsonian, "What Led Benjamin Franklin to Live Estranged From His Wife for Nearly Two Decades?," 24 Aug. 2017
The cauliflower was roasted and brown on outside, creamy on the inside, with a charred, smoky flavor.

— marguerite preston, Bon Appetit, "Chef Vivian Howard’s Summer Trip to France Is #VacationGoals," 22 Aug. 2017
Scene 2: Sitting down with Everybody’s-Favorite-Best-Friend-in-Training, Jordyn, Kylie takes a bite out of a chocolate egg hoping for a surprise on the inside.

— mariah smith, The Cut, "Kylie Jenner Indulges in a Fame-Free Farm Fantasy While Being Filmed," 21 Aug. 2017
Krysten Ritter describes Jessica Jones’s role on Marvel's The Defenders as sort of being the team chocolate nougat — hard on the outside but gooey on the inside.

— gabe bergado, Teen Vogue, ""Marvel's The Defenders'" Jessica Jones Is the Hero We Need," 18 Aug. 2017
Each transition amplifies this doubt, and generation after generation of medical professionals have lived in isolated silence – smiling on the outside and doubting on the inside.

— Philly.com, "Wisdom for new doctors: 'We're all in this together'," 13 Aug. 2017
After adding angel wing tattoos on the insides of her ankles back in January, the 20-year-old retured to the parlor to add a tiny rose emoji on the outside of her left arm, just above her elbow.

— cara zimmerman, Harper's BAZAAR, "Bella Hadid Gets A New Tattoo," 1 Aug. 2017
People talk about warring factions on the inside, about staffers teaming up with one another against their enemies.

— olivia nuzzi, Daily Intelligencer, "Why the Mooch Whacked Reince Priebus," 29 July 2017

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

First Known Use of inside

14th century

inside Synonyms

Synonyms

innards, interior, within

Antonyms

exterior, outside

Related Words

belly, bowels, guts; stuffing; recesses; center, core, heart

Near Antonyms

border, boundary, brim, brink, edge, end, extremity, fringe, limit, lip, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim; surface

inside

adverb

Definition of inside

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

See inside defined for English-language learners

Examples of inside in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of inside from the Web

Inside, a meeting about a controversial Confederate monument was taking place.

— keith bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "The good, the bad and the ugly outside a Confederate monument meeting," 30 Aug. 2017
View 93 Photos Inside, there are Trackhawk logos on the seats, a Trackhawk-exclusive red-and-black two-tone interior option, and a 200-mph speedometer.

— jared gall, Car and Driver, "2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk," 30 Aug. 2017
The first 11 bodies were wrapped in a simple cloth before they were placed in the ground, but the later ones were found inside wooden coffins, dressed in colorful jackets.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Remains of 19th-Century Chinese Laborers Found at Pyramid in Peru," 29 Aug. 2017
The long, thin grapes are dark purple (think: eggplant) on the outside, but tinged light green on the fleshy inside.

— Southern Living, "Cotton Candy Grapes Are Back at Sam’s Club," 29 Aug. 2017
The hurricane appears to have torn its roof and damaged facilities inside, Palmer says.

— science news staff, Science | AAAS, "As Harvey hovers, researchers take stock," 28 Aug. 2017
In reality, his screeching zombie is inside, but isn’t making a sound.

— elyse roth, Glamour, "'Game of Thrones' Season 7 Finale Recap: A Major Death, That Jon and Daenerys Thing Happened, and So Much More," 28 Aug. 2017
With an abundance of original architectural features including 6 fireplaces, a kitchen cooking hearth and warm oak and pine floors, this one feels feels especially intimate inside.

— elizabeth finkelstein, Country Living, "This is the Stone Farmhouse We've Been Waiting Our Whole Lives to Buy," 24 Aug. 2017
According to police, a second man then approached the passenger side of the victim's car and reached into the car to steal a purse from someone sitting inside, as well as a messenger bag that belonged to the first victim.

— steve schering, chicagotribune.com, "Four robberies reported over 2 days in Oak Park," 22 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of inside

15th century

inside

adjective

Definition of inside

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

See inside defined for English-language learners

Examples of inside in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of inside from the Web

Registration for each session begins at 6:30 p.m. inside CorePower Yoga Studio, followed by class at 7:15 p.m. Wine Down Wednesday takes place every week at The Grove at Waterside.

— courtney ortega, star-telegram, "No gym membership? No problem. These free fitness classes will keep you in shape," 30 Aug. 2017
Sure-handed wide receiver Michael Thomas dropped a pass on an inside slant, and then kicked the football in disgust, catapulting it beyond where Johnson stood.

— herbie teope, NOLA.com, "For Saints' Curtis Johnson, there's 'no place like home'," 30 Aug. 2017
In the Cypress Forest Estates neighborhood in northern Harris County, people called for help from inside homes as water from a nearby creek rose to their eaves.

— david phillip, The Seattle Times, "Bracing for Harvey’s return, worry renews: Is worst to come?," 29 Aug. 2017
In the Cypress Forest Estates neighborhood in northern Harris County, people called for help from inside homes as water from a nearby creek rose to their eaves.

— Washington Post, "Amid Harvey floods, Houston chief worries ‘how many bodies?’," 29 Aug. 2017
Eight starters are back on defense led by Kiser, the No. 1 rated inside linebacker prospect in next April’s NFL Draft by CBS Sports.

— manny navarro, miamiherald, "Is the ACC the best conference in college football? Breaking down Atlantic and Coastal," 29 Aug. 2017
Deep inside giant icy planets like Uranus and Neptune, the freezing temperatures and extreme pressures combine to form some strange weather patterns.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Simulate Neptune's Mythical Diamond Rain," 21 Aug. 2017
Although most sightings of isolated people are inside parks or territories set aside to protect them, the maps show how these areas are increasingly hemmed in by large projects.

— barbara fraser, Science | AAAS, "Maps reveal how Amazon development is closing in on isolated tribes," 17 Aug. 2017
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III is still the attorney general, and a lot of people are trying to get the inside voice to speak again.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "This Is the Bleakest Moment for America in My Lifetime," 13 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of inside

1611

inside Synonyms

Synonyms

behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hushed, hush-hush, private, intimate, nonpublic, privy, secret

Antonyms

common, open, public

Near Antonyms

well-known; advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted; general, popular, prevailing, vulgar; current, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, shared

inside

preposition

Definition of inside

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

See inside defined for English-language learners

Examples of inside in a Sentence

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.

First Known Use of inside

1791

INSIDE Defined for English Language Learners

inside

play

noun

Definition of inside for English Language Learners

: an inner side, edge, or surface of something
the inside : an inner part of something (such as a building or machine)
: the inner parts (such as the heart and stomach) of a person's body

inside

adverb

Definition of inside for English Language Learners

: in the inner part of something
: in or into the inner part of a building, room, etc.
: in prison

inside

adjective

Definition of inside for English Language Learners

: located on or near the inner side, edge, or surface of something
: coming from someone within a group or organization : relating to or having information that is known only to a special group of people
: done by someone within a group or organization

inside

preposition

Definition of inside for English Language Learners

: in or into the inner part of (something or someone)
: within the borders or limits of (something)
: before the end of (a period of time)

INSIDE Defined for Kids

inside

play

noun in·side \ in-ˈsīd , ˈin-ˌsīd \

Definition of inside for Students

1 :an inner side, surface, or space

the inside of a box

2 :the inner parts of a person or animal —usually used in pl.

inside

adverb

Definition of inside for Students

1 :on the inner side

I cleaned my car inside and out.

2 :in or into the interior

Go inside.

inside

adjective

Definition of inside for Students

1 :relating to or being on or near the inside

an inside wall

2 :relating or known to a certain few people

inside information

inside

preposition

Definition of inside for Students

1 :to or on the inside of

They are inside the house.

2 :before the end of :within

I'll finish inside an hour.

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