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

• innards
• interior
• within

Adjective

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

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

Think of it like a normal burrito, but instead of a tortilla, someone is wrapping sugary insides in sheets of cotton candy. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024

Be sure to use figs at their prime, their thin skins oozing their honeyed insides. —Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 3 July 2024

Adverb

The wedding ceremony took place on Sunday, and after an extended cocktail hour in the garden of Pioneer Works, everyone was invited inside to gather around the chuppah. —Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2024

Still, before that vista can rightly command your attention, your eyes will first flitter among the many wonders inside—from the handsome vignettes of vintage and bespoke furnishings that fill every corner of the home to the eclectic artworks that cover the walls in dense, salon-style arrangements. —Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2024

Adjective

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm Sept. 14 through Jan. 19 Get an inside look of The Beatles' meteoric rise to stardom through the lens of one of its most famous members — more than 250 pictures will be on display at the Portland Art Museum. —Meira Gebel, Axios, 4 Sep. 2024

The other always subsists as other, and the separation between those who are outside and those who are inside remains intact. —Manuel Borja-Villel, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024

Preposition

Astro literally lives inside a PS5, hurtling through space with his bot buddies until an alien attacks, leaving them marooned on a desert planet. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2024

Read More: 7 Metrics Everyone Should Know About Their Own Health Warmer temperatures also affect how viruses survive and thrive inside the insects. —Alice Park, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024

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

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