inside

1 of 4

noun

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

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Brown didn’t have this weapon in Sacramento, where Sabonis was more of an inside-out big man. New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 In the same way that eye lenses and corneas are composed of simplified tissues, many transparent ocean animals also fill much of their insides with gelatinous material or fluid. Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Adverb
The meeting came less than a week after investigators said 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, a former Marine, crashed a pickup truck into the Grand Blanc ward of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before firing an assault-style rifle inside. Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025 But, like during the entirety of the trial, those who are eager to see inside the courtroom will have to continue to rely on sketches and dispatches from inside for the news of the day. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Not just from the outside in but from our inside rifts. Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 Her inside game is close to unstoppable, supplemented with a one-legged midrange fadeaway and an improved set shot beyond the arc. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Preposition
Van Hecke dangled a leg inside his own box, with Evanilson going over to win the decisive penalty in a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025 Fort Worth community members reacted to the fatal shooting inside a West 7th bar early Sunday, with some calling it senseless violence as police work to find the suspects. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inside

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of inside was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inside. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

inside

1 of 4 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on inside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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