in
adverb/ɪn/
/ɪn/
For the special uses of in in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example fill in (for somebody) is in the phrasal verb section at fill.Idioms - into an object, an area or a substance
- She opened the door and went in.
- The kids were playing by the river and one of them fell in.
Definitions on the go
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- contained within an object, an area or a substance
- We were locked in.
- I can't drink coffee with milk in.
- (of people) at home or at a place of work
- Nobody was in when we called.
- I didn't hear you come in.
- (of trains, buses, etc.) at the place where people can get on or off, for example the station
- The bus is due in (= it should arrive) at six.
- (of letters, etc.) received
- Applications must be in by April 30.
- (of the tide) at or towards its highest point on land
- Is the tide coming in or going out?
- elected
- Several new councillors got in at the last election.
- (in cricket, baseball, etc.) if a team or team member is in, they are batting opposite out (20)Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2
- (in tennis, etc.) if the ball is in, it has landed inside the line
- Her serve was just in.
- The ball landed in.
Word OriginOld English in (preposition), inn, inne (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German in (preposition), German ein (adverb), from an Indo-European root shared by Latin in and Greek en.
Idioms
See in in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee in in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe in at something
- to be present when something happens
- They were in at the start.
be in for something
- (informal) to be going to experience something soon, especially something unpleasant
- He's in for a shock!
- I'm afraid we're in for a storm.
be/get in on something
- (informal) to be/become involved in something; to share or know about something
- I'd like to be in on the plan.
- Is she in on the secret?
be (well) in with somebody
- (informal) to be (very) friendly with somebody, and likely to get an advantage from the friendship
in and out (of something)
- going regularly to a place
- He was in and out of jail for most of his life.
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in