Word
in
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
in
Past
inned
Past participle
inned
Definitions
01location or position
A1 · Beginner
prep. inside a container, a place, or an area.
prep. indicating inclusion or position within spatial limits or a defined area.
“My keys are in my pocket, so I don't need to look for them.”
“The documents were stored securely in the vault, protected from both environmental damage and unauthorised access.”
Pitfall
I am in the bus.
I am on the bus.
Use 'on' for public transport like buses, trains, and planes, but 'in' for cars and small boats.
02time periods
A1 · Beginner
prep. during a period of time like a month, a year, or a season.
prep. indicating a point within a temporal limit or duration.
Español:durante
“We usually go to the beach in the summer when the weather is hot.”
“The company was founded in 1998, just before the digital revolution transformed the industry entirely.”
Pitfall
I will see you in Monday.
I will see you on Monday.
Use 'on' for specific days and dates, but 'in' for months, years, and seasons.
Synonyms
03state or condition
A2 · Elementary
prep. used to describe the situation or feeling someone is experiencing.
prep. denoting a state, condition, or circumstances of the subject.
“She is in a lot of pain after falling off her bike.”
“The two nations have been in conflict for decades, despite numerous attempts at diplomatic intervention.”
Synonyms
04medium or language
A2 · Elementary
prep. using a specific language, material, or way of expressing something.
prep. indicating the medium, format, or language used for communication or creation.
“Please write your answers in English so the teacher can read them.”
“The contract was drafted in triplicate, ensuring that each party held an original copy for their records.”
05towards the inside
A1 · Beginner
adv. to or towards the inside of a building or room.
adv. at or towards the interior of a defined space.
“It started to rain, so we all ran in to stay dry.”
“The detective peered through the window but couldn't see anything happening in.”
Antonyms
06fashionable
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. popular or fashionable at the moment.
adj. currently fashionable, popular, or trendy.
“Short hair is very in this season, according to the magazines.”
“The designer noted that while neon colours were in last year, the market has shifted toward more muted, earthy tones.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
07present at work
A2 · Elementary
adj. present at your office or home.
adj. located at one's place of work or residence; available.
“Is the manager in today, or is she working from home?”
“The receptionist confirmed that the doctor would be in by ten o'clock to resume consultations.”
08influence or connection
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. a way to get into a group or a position of power through someone you know.
n. a position of influence or a means of gaining entry or favour.
“He has an in with the director, so he might get the job.”
“Securing an in with the local council proved vital for the developers to move the project forward ahead of schedule.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “in” in context.
Real-World Examples
“An evening drone strike on the closed Southern Bridge was the latest in a series of strikes since Thursday that forced the full or partial suspension of traffic across it and two other bridges spanning the Dnipro River.” “The images were taken in June this year and show further destruction of homes, businesses, places of worship and infrastructure since a fragile ceasefire came into effect almost 12 months ago.” “A driver charging his electric taxi and a former law enforcement officer who tried to intervene were among the seven people wounded in a mass shooting at an Idaho fast food restaurant that also left three people dead, according to friends and relatives of the two men.” Etymology
From Proto-Germanic \in and \innai, the preposition and verb descend through Old English in and Middle English in, while the adverb, noun, and adjective forms took a slightly different route via Old English inn and inne before converging in Middle English.
The senses divide along ancient case lines. The locative and accusative cases of the Proto-Indo-European root \h₁en* supplied the directional meanings "in" and "into"; the more abstract senses of qualification and means developed from a PIE grammatical metaphor that treated infinitives as locatives.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/in
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0