ENGLISH
REFERENCE

in place

prep. phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

prep. phr.. ready to be used or working in the correct position.

prep. phr.. functioning as an adverbial or adjectival phrase indicating that a system, rule, or physical object is established, organized, or positioned for use.


SIMPLE

The new safety rules are now in place.

CONTEXTUAL

Once the funding was in place, the team started building the new community center.

COMPLEX

Despite the rigorous security protocols already in place, the hackers managed to bypass the firewall and access the sensitive database.

Usage

often used with verbs like 'be', 'put', or 'have' to describe systems, laws, or physical arrangements.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'in the place of' (substitution); 'in place' implies readiness and structural stability within a system.

Pitfall

The laws are in the place.The laws are in place.adding 'the' changes the meaning to a specific physical location rather than the state of being established.

© 2026 English Reference