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
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
The house inside will be updated to look like 2025. Eric Shawn, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025 Against tight end Darnell Washington in one-on-one drills, however, the massive tight end forced Sawyer inside for a clear win. Mike Defabo, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
At inside linebacker, the Dolphins return Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, while adding K.J. Britt along with Gay this offseason. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2025 Greenlaw is projected to get the start at inside linebacker to start the season. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2025
Preposition
Two women and five children were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, police said. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Aug. 2025 But inside one of the neighborhood's historic homes, more than 400 artworks and collectibles were up for grabs — all once owned by an artist who designed one of the city's most enduring logos. Kylie Volavongsa, jsonline.com, 4 Aug. 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 8 Aug. 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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