IN Definition

IN
Ind.
abbreviation

1. US state.
Indiana.

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In
symbol

1. chem.
Indium.

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in
prep

1. Used to express the position of someone or something with regard to what encloses, surrounds or includes them or it; within.

Example: Stay in bed
Example: They are in the park
Example: She's in the sixth form
2. Into.

Example: get in the car
Example: I put it in my bag
3. After (a period of time).

Example: Come back in an hour
Example: It will be ready in one minute
4. During; while.

Example: lost in transit
Example: In running for the bus, she tripped
5. Used to express arrangement or shape.

Example: in a square
Example: in alphabetical order
6. From; out of something.

Example: two in every eight
7. By the medium or means of, or using, something.

Example: sung in Italian
Example: written in code
8. Wearing something.

Example: the lady in red
Example: a man in a fur hat
9. Used to describe a state or manner.

Example: in a hurry
Example: in a daze
10. Used to state an occupation.

Example: She's in banking
Example: a job in local government
11. Used to state a purpose.

Example: a party in his honour
Example: built in memory of his wife
12. Said of some animals: pregnant with (young).

Example: in calf

adverb

1. To or towards the inside; indoors.

Example: Do come in
Thesaurus: inward, inside, toward the centre, into, within.
2. At home or work

Example: Is John in?
Thesaurus: here, at home.
3. So as to be added or included.

Example: beat in the eggs
4. So as to enclose or conceal, or be enclosed or concealed.

Example: The fireplace was bricked in
5. In or into political power or office.
6. In or into fashion.
7. In a good position; in favour.

Example: trying to keep in with the boss
8. In certain games: batting.
9. Into a proper, required or efficient state.

Example: run a new car in
10. Said of the tide: at its highest point; as close to the shore as it gets.
11. Expressing prolonged activity, especially by large numbers of people gathered in one room or building, originally as a form of organized protest.

Example: a sit-in
Example: a work-in
Example: a teach-in

adj

1. Inside; internal; inwards. See also inner, inmost.

Example: Never go out of the in door
2. Fashionable.

Example: Orange was the in colour last summer
Example: the in thing to do
Thesaurus: popular, fashionable, trendy, modish.
3. In power or office.

Example: when the Tories were in
4. Used for receiving things coming in.

Example: an in-tray
5. Shared by a group of people.

Example: an in-joke

Idiom: be in for it or something

colloq
To be likely to experience some trouble or difficulty.
Example: We'll be in for it when we get home
Example: He's in for a rough ride

Idiom: have it in for someone

colloq
To make trouble for them, especially because of disliking them.

Idiom: have it in her (have it in him, one etc)

To be capable of (doing something).
Example: I was amazed at Jo's high dive; I didn't think she had it in her

Idiom: in as far as ... (in so far as ...)

To the degree that ... (sometimes written insofar as ...)

Idiom: in as much as ... (inasmuch as ...)

Because ... ; considering that ...

Idiom: in itself

Intrinsically; essentially; considered on its own.
Example: It's not much of a job in itself, but the prospects and perks are good

Idiom: in on something

colloq
Knowing about it and sharing in it
Example: Were you in on the secret?

Idiom: ins and outs

The complex and detailed facts of a matter; intricacies. Also called outs and ins.

Idiom: insomuch that (insomuch as)

In as much as.

To such an extent that.

Idiom: in that ...

For the reason that ...

Idiom: in with someone

colloq
Friendly with them or in favour with them.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.