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

So, Io itself is constantly being gravitationally squeezed by Jupiter, causing Io’s insides to become very hot and molten and eventually erupt, says Bolton. —Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

And while its insides seem to have been well-preserved, researchers are still debating what this organism may have been. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025

Adverb

To get into the park, there is a giant cement staircase, and once inside, there is only one elevator that can transfer fans from the lower to the upper concourses. —Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

Now, while Bode and Walter were inside, Sharon and Vince rolled up, along with Jake and a 42 truck. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 9 May 2025

Adjective

Given, however, that Lynch is in the early stages of her heel run and feud with Valkyria, the best booking move at Backlash in for Valkyria to barely eke out a close victory, perhaps with an inside cradle or small package pin. —Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

The celebrity chef shared an inside peek at the bride and groom-to-be’s worries in the weeks leading up to the May wedding. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 9 May 2025

Preposition

Blanche had been President Donald Trump’s criminal defense lawyer before becoming the second-ranking official inside the Justice Department. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 13 May 2025

The video, posted to the clinic's social media, begins with an unusual camera angle: from inside a kennel. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025

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

Rhymes for inside

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

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