In
/ɪn/
Last Updated: January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Definition of In
noun
adjective
- Located indoors, especially at home or at one's office or place of work.
"Is Mr. Smith in?"
- Located inside something.
"Little by little I pushed the snake into the basket, until finally all of it was in."
- (of the ball or other playing implement) Falling or remaining within the bounds of the playing area.
"If the tennis ball bounces on the line then it's in."
- Inserted or fitted into something.
"I've discovered why the TV wasn't working – the plug wasn't in!"
- Having been collected or received.
"The replies to the questionnaires are now all in."
adverb
- At or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.
"He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in."
- Towards the speaker or other reference point.
"For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out."
- So as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.
"Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in."
- Still eligible to play, e.g. able to bat in cricket and baseball.
"He went for the wild toss but wasn't able to stay in."
- After the beginning of something.
"The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in."
preposition
- Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or other limits.
- Into.
"Less water gets in your boots this way."
- Used to indicate limit, qualification, condition, or circumstance.
"In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment."
- Used to indicate means, medium, format, genre, or instrumentality.