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
Eating the wrong ones can age your insides, degrade your skin and even shorten your life. Dr. Anthony Yuon, Contributor, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2025 The First Light's elegant interior was inspired by the Marin County Civic Center's insides. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 21 Jan. 2025
Adverb
Last week, Warehouse Workers for Justice said, several suburban warehouses were visited by federal immigration officials, which rattled workers, though most warehouses did not let the agents inside and only one person was arrested. Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025 The 17-year-old shielded the ball and then burst past the two players and cut inside towards a central area. Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
This inside look will feature Logan's ascent in the WWE, along with Jake fighting Mike Tyson. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025 Angelina and Vinny gave fans an inside look into their November 2022 engagement in an episode of Jersey Shore that aired in April 2023. Esther Kang, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025
Preposition
The breathtaking Spa Montage invites couples to a Journey of the Senses inside the Montage Healdsburg resort. Dahvi Shira, Forbes, 5 Feb. 2025 The incident occurred around noon local time inside Campus Risbergska — a school for adult education — located on a campus where other schools, including those for children, are based. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 5 Feb. 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

Dictionary Entries Near inside

Cite this Entry

“Inside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inside. Accessed 12 Feb. 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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