in

4 synonyms and 1 antonym for in, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Prep — Contained by, inside, or within the limits of something — spatially, in time, or in a more abstract sense.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

inside within inch

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

indium

Synonyms by Meaning

1. prep

Contained by, inside, or within the limits of something — spatially, in time, or in a more abstract sense.

“The keys are in the drawer.”

inside within

Opposites

out

2. noun

A position of access, favor, or influence, especially one that helps you get something done.

“He got the job through an in with the hiring manager.”

indium inch

How to use in

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

in time in fashion have an in with someone still in (cricket)

Etymology

This word goes back to the PIE word *h₁en. As a preposition and verb, it comes from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in. As an adverb, noun and adjective, it comes from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai. Senses 1 and 2, "in" and "into", come from th...

Full origin of in →

Frequently asked questions

What does “in” mean?

The word “in” means contained by, inside, or within the limits of something — spatially, in time, or in a more abstract sense. In plain terms, the basic word for being inside, within, or part of something — one of English's most overloaded small words, also used for fashion ("in"), a useful connection ("an in"), and cricket/baseball turns at bat.

How do you pronounce “in”?

“In” is pronounced uhn (/ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “in” in a sentence?

Here is “in” used in a sentence: “The keys are in the drawer.”

What is the opposite of “in”?

The opposite of “in” — its antonyms — is out.

What part of speech is “in”?

Depending on how it is used, “in” can be a preposition, an adjective and a noun.

Is “in” a common word?

“In” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “in” have?

“In” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: contained by, inside, or within the limits of something — spatially, in time, or in a more abstract sense.

What is the difference between "in" and "on" for places?

Use "in" for enclosed spaces or areas with boundaries: "in the box", "in the kitchen", "in London." Use "on" for surfaces: "on the table", "on the wall." Some pairings are fixed by convention, such as "in the car" but "on the bus."

What is the difference between "in" and "at" for time?

"In" goes with longer periods — months, years, seasons, and parts of the day: "in July", "in 2020", "in the morning." "At" marks precise points: "at six o'clock", "at noon", "at midnight." Note the fixed exception "at night."

What is the difference between "in" and "into"?

"In" describes a position or state: "she is in the garden." "Into" describes movement from outside to inside: "she walked into the garden." When the verb involves motion toward the inside of something, "into" is usually the right choice.

People also searched

out within inside inch indium

Nearby words

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