ENGLISH
REFERENCE

inside

prep. · adv. · n. · adj.
US //ˈɪnˌsaɪd// in·side
  1. 1 within a space (prep.)
    A1 Beginner

    in or into a room, building, or container.

    within the interior of a defined physical space or container.

    Example

    The keys are inside the small blue box on the shelf.

    Example

    The documents were discovered inside a locked safe that had remained undisturbed in the basement for decades.
  2. 2 within a time period (prep.)
    B1 Intermediate

    happening before a certain amount of time has passed.

    within the duration of a specified period of time.

    Example

    The technician promised to fix the computer inside an hour.

    Example

    The legal team managed to file the appeal inside the three-day window permitted by the court.
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  1. 3 indoors (adv.)
    A2 Elementary

    in or into a building.

    within or towards the interior of a building or enclosed structure.

    Example

    It started to rain, so the children ran inside to play.

    Example

    Although the garden was beautiful, the humidity forced the guests to move the party inside where there was air conditioning.
  2. 4 the interior (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the inner part or side of something.

    the internal part, surface, or space of an object or structure.

    Example

    The inside of the house was painted a bright white.

    Example

    The architect focused on the inside of the cathedral, ensuring the vaulted ceilings would amplify the choir's voices.
  3. 5 secret information (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    special information that only people involved in a situation know.

    privileged or confidential information known only to those within a specific group or organisation.

    Example

    He gave me the inside on why the manager really quit.

    Example

    Journalists were desperate to get the inside on the merger before the official press release was issued tomorrow morning.
  4. 6 internal or privileged (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    relating to the inner part of something, or coming from within a group.

    pertaining to the interior; also used to describe a person or information originating from within an organisation.

    Example

    The police suspect it was an inside job because the alarm was turned off.

    Example

    The company conducted an inside audit to identify inefficiencies before hiring external consultants for a broader review.
Origin

From Middle English ynneside; equivalent to in- + side. Compare German Innenseite (“inside”), Danish inderside (“inside”), Swedish insida (“inside”), Dutch binnenzijde (“inside”), German Low German Binnensied, Binnersied (“inside”), Saterland Frisian Binnersiede (“inside”).

Word family

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