- in
- I UK [ɪn] / US
adjective, adverb, preposition ***
Summary:
In can be used in the following ways: - as a preposition (followed by a noun): The children are in the garden. ♦ They met in 1973. - as an adverb (without a following noun): Come in and sit down. - after the verb "to be": "Is Philip in?" "No, he's gone out." - as an adjective: It was the in thing to do.1) used for showing where someone or something isa) inside a container, room, building, vehicle etcHe had left his passport in his coat pocket.
She's downstairs in the sitting room.
If convicted, Goldman faces 20 years in prison.
There's room for all of us in Dad's car.
Have you seen a bag with some tools in?
b) within an area, city, or countryThe books are printed in Hong Kong.
the largest stadium in the world
a picnic in the park
c) at home, or at your officeMost evenings we stay in and watch television.
I asked to speak to the manager but he wasn't in.
d) within an object, space, or substanceWe noticed a crack in the wall.
in the air/in the sky/in space:the bacteria in our drinking water
There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
It was the astronauts' first experience of living in space.
e) at a specific part of somethingin the middle/centre:Further details can be found in Section 25.
a new department store in the centre of London
f) held or enclosed by somethingWhat's that you've got in your hand?
They lay together in each other's arms.
g) a ball that is in during a game such as tennis or basketball is within the area of play2) into somethinga) into your home, room, or place of workI invited her in for a drink.
b) moving into a place or a spaceThe door was open so I just walked in.
The water's very deep – don't fall in!
The guards fired a few shots in the air.
c) looking or pointing into somethingLook in the top drawer of my desk.
The dog stood motionless with its tail sticking straight up in the air.
3) arriving somewherea) used for saying that a train, bus, plane, or ship arrives somewhereWhat time does your flight get in?
The train from Paddington was just pulling in.
The ferry won't be in for another hour.
b) arriving at your home or place of workWhat time did you get in last night?
I'm going to be late, so don't expect me in till after ten.
4) used for showing when something happensa) during a particular period, year, month, or season, or during a part of the dayMel Gibson was born in 1956.
In winter the lake freezes over.
Let's meet again in the morning, at around 9.30.
The dance was popular in the 1920s.
b) at the end of a period of time in the futureThe exams are in six weeks' time.
Wait, I'll be with you in a minute or two.
c) within a period of timeUnemployment has risen by over 15% in the past year.
In the last few minutes we have received reports of an explosion on board an oil tanker.
Ernie had suffered two heart attacks in the space of a week.
d) used for saying how long it is since something last happenedI haven't laughed so much in years.
It was the president's first public appearance in three months.
e) during the time that someone is involved in something, or is experiencing somethingOwen's brother died in the war.
I sometimes look back and think of all the things I've done in my life.
5) used for talking about numbers and amountsa) used for saying how many units of money, weight, measurement etc make up a larger unitThere are 1000 kilograms in a tonne.
b) used for saying how big groups of people or things are when they do somethingLions often hunt in pairs.
People began to arrive in twos and threes.
c) used for saying how common something is by showing it as a number in relation to the total numberOne in twelve of the adult population suffers from stress.
d) used for saying that a number is within a particular range, especially a temperature, a score, or someone's agein the twenties/fifties/seventies etc:a hot summer's day with temperatures in the upper 20s
Most students got marks in the seventies or eighties.
in your teens/twenties/thirties etc:Damage is estimated in the thousands of dollars.
My daughter is in her mid-thirties now.
e) British used for showing something such as a rate of taxIncome tax now stands at 22 pence in the pound.
6) used for saying areas of activitya) used for saying what organized activity someone does with other peopleBailey was in the long-distance cycle race.
Leeds United fans took part in a massive street party.
b) used for saying what type of work someone doesShe's a teacher and her husband works in publishing.
c) used for saying what area of work or activity you are talking aboutThere have been amazing advances in medical science.
the crisis in farming
d) used for saying what subject someone studiesa university degree in economics
7) used for describing a particular state, situation, or relationshipa) used for describing the state or condition of someone or somethingI'm sorry my room's in such a mess.
The army retreated in confusion.
She wants to travel around the world while she's still in good health.
b) used for saying what the situation is for someone or somethingKevin is in trouble again.
Their lives were in danger.
c) used for describing the relationship between people and organizationsWe wanted to get married because we were very much in love.
Are we all in agreement?
The United States will work in co-operation with her allies.
8) wearing something used for saying what someone is wearingShe looked so beautiful in her wedding dress.
A man in a clown's hat came and sat beside her.
9) used for saying what changes used for saying what things change, increase, improve etcThere's going to be a change in the weather.
the recent rise in oil prices
10) used for talking about the way something is donea) using a particular method or styleWe are trying to teach mathematics in a more interesting way.
The houses are all built in the traditional style.
You have to pay in cash.
b) used for describing a particular type of behaviour or way of speakingWe all sat in silence.
in tears (= crying):She called out to me in a loud voice.
Some of the children were in tears.
c) using a particular languagein English/Spanish etc:Go on, say something in French.
There are instructions in eight languages.
11) used for describing ways of writing, drawing, or paintinga) used for stating what you use for writing, drawing, or paintingin ink/pencil/chalk/oils etc:a short note written in pencil
There were artists painting in oils and watercolours.
b) using a particular type or style of writingWrite your name and address in capital letters.
12) included as part of something used for saying what group someone or something is part ofBeckham is back in the England team.
She has a number of Picasso's paintings in her private collection.
13) used for describing how things are arrangeda) arranged in a way that forms a particular shape or patternWe all sat round in a circle.
The vines are planted out in straight rows.
b) arranged according to a particular orderThe names are listed in alphabetical order.
14) used for referring to colours used for saying what colour decorations, clothes etc areThe girls were all dressed in white.
Are these curtains available in green?
15) used for referring to the weather affected by a particular type of weatherHave you been waiting outside in the rain?
Flags were fluttering in the breeze.
16) used for mentioning the book, film etc where someone/something appearsa) used for mentioning a story, play, film etc where a character or event appears or happensMr Micawber is one of the best-loved characters in English literature.
The disaster is vividly recalled in James Cameron's film Titanic.
b) used for mentioning a film or play where an actor appearsDebbie Reynolds co-starred with Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.
Who's in the new movie with Brad Pitt?
c) used for mentioning a book, newspaper etc where you can read or see somethingI saw the house advertised in the local paper.
17) used for showing in what way something is true used for saying what aspect of someone or something you are referring toShe's so selfish in her attitude to other people.
The words are similar but there is a difference in meaning.
18) written or drawn to complete something written or drawn where something is neededFill in your name and address at the top of the form.
I typed in my password and my email address.
The children were busy colouring in the maps they had drawn.
19) doing something with a particular feeling used for describing someone's feelings when they do somethingShe spoke more in disappointment than in anger.
In my enthusiasm I quite forgot Dr Ziegler's warning.
20) given or received given or sent to someone or received by someoneHomework must be handed in tomorrow morning.
Have you sent in your application form?
be in (= be received):I shall collect your books in at the end of the lesson.
Tax forms must be in by the end of September.
21) used for saying what a particular substance contains used for saying what product, food, or drink contains a particular substanceThere is a lot of fat in cheese and butter.
Do you take milk in your tea?
22) available to buy used for saying that something is available in a shopSmoked salmon? We'll have some in on Thursday.
23) British used for stating who is batting in cricket a player or team that is in during a game of cricket is batting24) used for saying who or what has particular qualities used for saying the person or thing that has the qualities needed for a particular job or situationIn Nelson Mandela the people had a leader that they could respect and admire.
25) elected if a politician or a political party is in, they have been electedget in (= be elected):We hope things will get better now the Tories are in.
The Labour candidate got back in with an increased majority.
26) fashionable something that is in is fashionablethe in thing (to do):Pale colours are definitely in this summer.
We used to go to boring cocktail parties just because it was the in thing to do.
27) when the sea is high if the tide is in or comes in, the sea has reached or is reaching its highest level on the land28) breaking inwards used for saying that something breaks or falls inwardsThey kicked the door in and charged through.
The roof caved in and buried all of them.
•day in day out/week in week out etc
— continuously or frequently over a period of days, weeks etcI don't know how you can stand eating the same thing day in day out.
in length/width/height/area etc
— used when showing measurementsThe rear garden is nearly 30 metres in length.
in their hundreds/thousands/millions
— British used for saying how many people or things do something, without being exactLondoners came out on the streets in their thousands.
roll/flood/pour in
— used for saying that large numbers of people or things, or large amounts of something, arrive somewhereCrowds poured in from everywhere to watch the race.
The Red Cross made an appeal, and the money started rolling in.
- in that
II UK [ɪn] / US noun [singular]
Word forms "in":
singular in plural ins spokena way to achieve somethingThe job itself is deadly boring, but it's an in to a career in publishing.
•See:
English dictionary. 2014.
