English Reference

Word

within

Phoneticswith·in, stress on the second syllable

US/wɪˈðɪn/

UK/wɪðˈɪn/

Adverb of place

Definitions

01inside a place

A2 · Elementary

prep. inside a specific area, building, or object.

prep. situated inside the physical limits or boundaries of a space.

“The guests stayed within the hotel grounds for the entire weekend.”

“The ancient ruins are located within the city walls, protected from modern development by strict local conservation laws.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02inside a time limit

A2 · Elementary

prep. before a certain amount of time has passed.

prep. occurring before the end of a specified period of time.

“You should receive a reply to your email within three working days.”

“The emergency services arrived within minutes of the call, demonstrating the efficiency of the new dispatch system.”

Synonyms

duringinside of

Antonyms

03inside a range or limit

B1 · Intermediate

prep. inside the limits of what is possible, allowed, or expected.

prep. occurring inside the scope, range, or reach of a particular power, ability, or set of rules.

“The project was completed within the original budget.”

“The court ruled that the minister had acted within his legal powers when he signed the executive order.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04on the inside

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adv. inside a building or a person's mind or body.

adv. in or into the interior of a place or entity; often used to describe internal thoughts or feelings.

“The house looked old, but within, it was modern and bright.”

“Though he appeared calm to his colleagues, he felt a great deal of anxiety within.”

Synonyms

05inside this document

C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical

adj. mentioned or contained in the document you are currently reading.

adj. referring to content or rulings contained in the present document or legal context.

“The terms and conditions within are subject to change without notice.”

“The petitioner seeks to challenge the specific administrative findings within, arguing that the evidence was misinterpreted by the lower court.”

Usage

Usually placed after the noun it modifies or used in specific legal phrasing.

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “within” in context.

Verb

01. arrive within an hour

“The pizza delivery should arrive within an hour of your order.”

verb + prep + adj + noun

02. finish within the time limit

“You need to finish the exam within the time limit provided by the teacher.”

verb + prep + adj + noun

03. stay within the rules

“Athletes must stay within the rules to avoid being disqualified from the race.”

verb + prep + noun

Preposition

04. within easy reach

“Keep your passport within easy reach when you are at the airport.”

prep + adj + noun

05. within the budget

“We managed to complete the home renovation within the budget we set last year.”

prep + noun

06. within walking distance

“The hotel is located within walking distance of the city center.”

prep + adj + noun

Etymology

From Middle English withinne, withinnen, from Old English wiþinnan; equivalent to with + in.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Law

This entry

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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference