Etimology
Preposition and verb from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in. Adverb, noun and adjective from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai. Sense 1/2 "in"/"into" are from the original PIE prefix, with locative/accusative case respectively. Sense 3/4 "qualification"/"means" are from the PIE metaphor of all infinitives coming from locatives.
preposition
in
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or other limits.
Into.
Used to indicate limit, qualification, condition, or circumstance.
Used to indicate means, medium, format, genre, or instrumentality.
Examples
The dog is in the kennel.
There were three pickles in a jar.
I like living in the city.
There are lots of trees in the park.
GDP measures the total value of output in an economic territory.
We are in the enemy camp.
Her plane is in the air.
Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!
I glanced over at the pretty girl in the red dress.
You are one in a million.
She's in an orchestra.
My birthday is in the first week of December.
Easter falls in the fourth lunar month.
The country reached a high level of prosperity in his first term.
Will you be able to finish this in a week?
The massacre resulted in over 1000 deaths in three hours.
They said they would call us in a week.
Many English nouns in -is form their plurals in -es.
The ball was accidentally kicked in Kevin Nolan's face in the opening seconds of the contest – an incident that set the tone for an extremely uncomfortable encounter for the Premier League side.
Less water gets in your boots this way.
She stood there looking in the window longingly.
In returning to the vault, I had no very sure purpose in mind; only a vague surmise that this finding of Blackbeard's coffin would somehow lead to the finding of his treasure.
In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment.
My fat rolls around in folds.
He stalked away in anger.
John is in a coma.
You've got a friend in me.
He's met his match in her.
There has been no change in his condition.
What grade did he get in English?
Please pay me in cash — preferably in tens and twenties.
The deposit can be in any legal tender, even in gold.
Her generosity was rewarded in the success of its recipients.
[…] tourists sometimes attempt to pay in euros or British pounds.
Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" in C minor is among his most popular.
His speech was in French, but was simultaneously translated into eight languages.
When you write in cursive, it's illegible.
Military letters should be formal in tone, but not stilted.
Related words
related terms
in a hurry
in a jiffy
in haste
in love
in situ
in tatters
in turn
verb
in (third-person singular simple present ins, present participle inning, simple past and past participle inned)
(obsolete, transitive) To enclose.
(obsolete, transitive) To take in; to harvest.
Examples
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.
adverb
in (not comparable)
At or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.
Towards the speaker or other reference point.
So as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.
After the beginning of something.
(in combination, after a verb) Denotes a gathering of people assembled for the stated activity, sometimes, though not always, suggesting a protest.
Examples
Suddenly a strange man walked in.
Would you like that to take away or eat in?
He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in.
Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.
They flew in from London last night.
For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out.
Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in.
The Black Cats had a mountain to climb after James Morrison's header and Shane Long's neat side-foot finish gave Albion a 2-0 lead five minutes in.
The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in.
sing-in, pray-in, hug-in; see also be-in, love-in, sit-in, teach-in.
noun
in (plural ins)
A position of power or influence, or a way to get it.
(chiefly in the plural) One who, or that which, is in; especially, one who is in office.
(sports) The state of a batter/batsman who is currently batting; see innings.
(Can we verify(+) this sense?) A re-entrant angle; a nook or corner.
Examples
His parents got him an in with the company.
Antonym: out
This memoir has nothing to do with the question between the ins and the outs; it is intended neither to support nor to assail the administration; it is general in its views upon a general and national subject; […]
Related words
antonyms
out
adjective
in (comparative more in, superlative most in)
(not comparable) Located indoors, especially at home or at one's office or place of work.
(not comparable) Located inside something.
(sports, of the ball or other playing implement) Falling or remaining within the bounds of the playing area.
Inserted or fitted into something.
Having been collected or received.
In fashion; popular.
Incoming.
(nautical, of the sails of a vessel) Furled or stowed.
Of the tide, at or near its highest level.
(law) With privilege or possession; used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin
(cricket) Currently batting.
Having familiarity or involvement with somebody.
(informal) Having a favourable position, such as a position of influence or expected gain, in relation to another person.
(of fire or fuel) (British, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) Burning; ablaze.
Having used, consumed , or invested a certain amount.
Examples
Is Mr. Smith in?
Little by little I pushed the snake into the basket, until finally all of it was in.
If the tennis ball bounces on the line then it's in.
I've discovered why the TV wasn't working – the plug wasn't in!
The replies to the questionnaires are now all in.
Skirts are in this year.
Pierce a new holeIf Hell was in you'd give your soulTo the great southern trendkill
the in train
You can't get round the headland when the tide's in.
in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband
“ […] He […] took a rifle out of the batch and shot at me. I was lucky he was such a crummy shot.”“Why would he do that?”“I think he's in with them, Doctor.”“Them? You mean Ned and Cody?”“All of them. Hickok, the split tail, the whole lot.”
He is very in with the Joneses.
I think that bird fancies you. You're in there, mate!
I saw this thing on ITV the other week,Said, that if she played with her hair, she's probably keenShe's playing with her hair, well regularly,So I reckon I could well be in.
Blocks of compressed coal keep the fire in for a long time, but they give out very little heat.
“At all events,” said the Doctor, “the fire’s in, and here’s the camp-oven, too. Somebody will be here soon. I will go in and light my pipe.”
Was there any person in your own house at Renmore to keep the fire in while you were here?.
Normally when they camped in the wild they took turns to sit up and keep the fire in while the others slept, […].
He turned and started making up the range to keep the fire in overnight, and heard the front door click and Grant’s motor fire up. Sleep. He needed to sleep.
I'm three drinks in right now.
I was 500 dollars in when the stock crashed.
noun
in (plural ins or in)
Abbreviation of inch; inches.