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preposition A1 Beginner Very common

into

IHN-too
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Into (preposition) means moving toward the inside of something. Example: “She walked into the room and switched on the light.”

preposition
1
Moving toward the inside of something.
"She walked into the room and switched on the light."
"The cat jumped into the box and curled up."
"He poured the soup into two bowls."
2
Changing from one form, state, or substance to another.
"The caterpillar turned into a butterfly."
"They translated the novel into five languages."
"Heat the chocolate until it melts into a smooth liquid."
3
Informal: interested in or enthusiastic about something.
"He's really into old vinyl records these days."
"My sister is really into baking bread at the moment."
"Are you into hiking, or do you prefer lazy weekends?"

How to use into

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMoving toward the inside of something, or changing into a different form — and, informally, being keen on something.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "in to," two separate words, used when "in" belongs with the verb: "she logged in to the account," not "she logged into the account" (though both are common in casual use).

Easily confused with
in to → onto →
Common pairings
turn into into pieces get into trouble
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She walked _____ the room and switched on the light.

Etymology

From Old English into, formed from in plus to.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for into

pinto Shinto
See all rhymes for into →

Frequently asked questions

What does “into” mean?
The word “into” means moving toward the inside of something. In plain terms, moving toward the inside of something, or changing into a different form — and, informally, being keen on something.
How do you pronounce “into”?
“Into” is pronounced IHN-too (/ˈɪn.tu/ in IPA).
How do you use “into” in a sentence?
Here is “into” used in a sentence: “She walked into the room and switched on the light.”
What part of speech is “into”?
“Into” is a preposition.
Where does the word “into” come from?
The word “into” comes from Old English. From Old English into, formed from in plus to.
Is “into” a common word?
“Into” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “into” have?
“Into” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: moving toward the inside of something.
What is the difference between into and "in to" (two words)?
"Into" is a single preposition showing movement toward the inside of something or a change of state ("she walked into the room," "turn it into a park"). Keep "in to" as two words when "in" belongs to the verb and "to" belongs to what follows: "she dropped in to say hello," "hand it in to the teacher."
What is the difference between into and in?
"Into" emphasises movement from outside to inside ("he ran into the house"), while "in" describes a position or location ("he is in the house"). After movement verbs both can occur ("jump in the pool / into the pool"), but only "into" works for transformations ("water turns into ice").
When do you use into for changes, as in "turn into"?
"Into" marks a change from one form, state, or substance to another: "the caterpillar turned into a butterfly," "they converted the barn into a flat." In this sense "into" is not about physical movement but about transformation, and it cannot be replaced by "in."
Is "I'm into it" proper English?
"Into" meaning keenly interested in something ("she's really into photography") is informal but well established. It is fine in conversation and casual writing; in formal contexts, prefer "interested in" or "enthusiastic about."

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing into in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

Einer Rubio slammed into the back of the car as the vehicle braked to avoid hitting the fan.
From New York Post · Jul 26, 2026

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