1 in
Pronounced:
/ˈɪn, ən/
Function:
prepositionMeaning:
1 —used to indicate location or position within something ▪ We went for a swim in the lake. ▪ They have a house in the country. ▪ Albuquerque is in New Mexico. ▪ There wasn't a cloud in the sky. ▪ I like to read in bed. [=while sitting or lying on my bed] ▪ He was wounded in the leg. ▪ We had to stand in line for tickets. ▪ Why don't you look it up in the dictionary? ▪ There's something in my eye. [=between my eyelid and my eyeball] ▪ There was fear in their eyes. [=I could tell they were afraid when I looked at their eyes] ▪ I held her in my arms. ▪ He saw his reflection in the mirror.
2 : to the inside of (a room, container, etc.) ▪ She went in [=into] the house. ▪ Don't come in here with those muddy feet! ▪ I threw it in [=into] the garbage.
3 a —used to indicate that someone or something belongs to or is included as part of something ▪ She used to play in [=as a member of] a band. ▪ There are 12 in a dozen. [=a dozen is equal to 12] b —used to indicate the existence of something or someone within a story, movie, etc. ▪ a character in a story ▪ a scene in a movie ▪ He saw it in a dream.
4 a : during (a period of time, a season, etc.) ▪ It happened in the 1930s. ▪ She likes to travel in [=during] the summer. ▪ Call us sometime in [=during] the morning/afternoon/evening. ▪ They plan to open in September. ▪ We haven't seen them in [=for] ages! ▪ Back in those days, we didn't have computers. ▪ an important moment in history ▪ Never in my life have I heard such a thing! ▪ I lost track of them in [=during] all the commotion/confusion. b : at the end of (a period of time) ▪ I'll be there in a minute. ▪ The movie is coming out in a few months. ▪ He got his degree in only three years. c —used to indicate an approximate age or number ▪ a woman in her thirties [=a woman who is between 30 and 39 years old] ▪ Our members number in the thousands. [=more than 2,000]
5 a —used to indicate the method, materials, or form of something ▪ a note written in pencil [=using a pencil] ▪ a note written in French ▪ a symphony in (the key of) C ▪ The book is bound in leather. ▪ They were covered in mud from head to toe. ▪ She gave us 50 dollars in cash. ▪ The measurements are listed in both inches and centimeters. ▪ The shirts come in three sizes. b —used to indicate the color of something ▪ I decorated the room in blues and grays. [=using different shades of blue and gray]
6 a —used to indicate the state or condition of someone or something ▪ We'll be in trouble if we can't get the brakes to work! [=we will experience a situation that is difficult, dangerous, etc.] ▪ She was in and out of trouble for many years. ▪ young people in love [=experiencing romantic love] ▪ Are you in much pain? ▪ I just stood there gaping in amazement. ▪ They're not in any danger. b : to a specified state, condition, or form ▪ They were always getting in [=into] trouble. ▪ The vase broke in [=into] pieces. ▪ They divided the money in [=into] thirds.
7 —used to indicate how people or things are arranged ▪ They stood in a circle. ▪ The chairs were placed in a row.
8 —used to indicate the conditions that are around someone or something ▪ I found her sitting in the dark. = I found her sitting in darkness. ▪ Don't just stand there in the rain!
9 : while or as a result of (doing something) ▪ In trying to please everyone, I ended up pleasing no one. ▪ Many mistakes were made in planning the project.
10 —used to indicate the manner or purpose of something ▪ “No way!” she said in reply. ▪ The remark was made in jest. ▪ They sure left in a hurry! ▪ We held a banquet in his honor. [=to honor him] ▪ They went in search of lost treasure. [=to search for lost treasure] ▪ She moved to the city in hopes of finding a better job. [=with the hope that she would find a better job] ▪ They increased the penalties in an attempt to discourage lawbreakers.
11 —used to make a statement or description more limited or specific in meaning ▪ They are slow in their movements. [=their movements are slow] ▪ The two are alike in some ways/respects. [=they have some similarities] ▪ It measures two feet in length. [=it is two feet long] ▪ The idea works in theory, but not in practice. ▪ In a way, it makes sense. [=it makes sense if you consider a particular fact, idea, etc.]
12 —used to indicate the person who is being described ▪ We've lost a valuable employee in Mike. ▪ In her, you have a true friend.
13 —used to indicate the object of a belief, opinion, or feeling ▪ Have a little faith in them! ▪ Do you believe in ghosts? [=do you think ghosts are real?] ▪ I really don't know what she sees in him. [=I don't know why she likes/loves him] ▪ I have no interest in sports. [=sports do not interest me]
14 —used to indicate a job or area of activity ▪ She has a job in marketing. ▪ I hear he's in advertising. [=he has a job that involves advertising] ▪ She's struggling in math.
15 —used to indicate the existence of something as a part of someone's character ▪ He has no pity in him. ▪ I tried to be tough with them, but I just didn't have it in me. [=I wasn't able to be tough with them]
16 : wearing (something) as clothes ▪ He showed up in his best suit. ▪ the boy in the red jacket ▪ a lady in black [=a lady wearing black clothes]
17 —used to describe how common something is by comparing a smaller number to a larger number ▪ This condition affects one in five [=1 in 5; one out of every five] Americans.
2 : to the inside of (a room, container, etc.) ▪ She went in [=into] the house. ▪ Don't come in here with those muddy feet! ▪ I threw it in [=into] the garbage.
3 a —used to indicate that someone or something belongs to or is included as part of something ▪ She used to play in [=as a member of] a band. ▪ There are 12 in a dozen. [=a dozen is equal to 12] b —used to indicate the existence of something or someone within a story, movie, etc. ▪ a character in a story ▪ a scene in a movie ▪ He saw it in a dream.
4 a : during (a period of time, a season, etc.) ▪ It happened in the 1930s. ▪ She likes to travel in [=during] the summer. ▪ Call us sometime in [=during] the morning/afternoon/evening. ▪ They plan to open in September. ▪ We haven't seen them in [=for] ages! ▪ Back in those days, we didn't have computers. ▪ an important moment in history ▪ Never in my life have I heard such a thing! ▪ I lost track of them in [=during] all the commotion/confusion. b : at the end of (a period of time) ▪ I'll be there in a minute. ▪ The movie is coming out in a few months. ▪ He got his degree in only three years. c —used to indicate an approximate age or number ▪ a woman in her thirties [=a woman who is between 30 and 39 years old] ▪ Our members number in the thousands. [=more than 2,000]
5 a —used to indicate the method, materials, or form of something ▪ a note written in pencil [=using a pencil] ▪ a note written in French ▪ a symphony in (the key of) C ▪ The book is bound in leather. ▪ They were covered in mud from head to toe. ▪ She gave us 50 dollars in cash. ▪ The measurements are listed in both inches and centimeters. ▪ The shirts come in three sizes. b —used to indicate the color of something ▪ I decorated the room in blues and grays. [=using different shades of blue and gray]
6 a —used to indicate the state or condition of someone or something ▪ We'll be in trouble if we can't get the brakes to work! [=we will experience a situation that is difficult, dangerous, etc.] ▪ She was in and out of trouble for many years. ▪ young people in love [=experiencing romantic love] ▪ Are you in much pain? ▪ I just stood there gaping in amazement. ▪ They're not in any danger. b : to a specified state, condition, or form ▪ They were always getting in [=into] trouble. ▪ The vase broke in [=into] pieces. ▪ They divided the money in [=into] thirds.
7 —used to indicate how people or things are arranged ▪ They stood in a circle. ▪ The chairs were placed in a row.
8 —used to indicate the conditions that are around someone or something ▪ I found her sitting in the dark. = I found her sitting in darkness. ▪ Don't just stand there in the rain!
9 : while or as a result of (doing something) ▪ In trying to please everyone, I ended up pleasing no one. ▪ Many mistakes were made in planning the project.
10 —used to indicate the manner or purpose of something ▪ “No way!” she said in reply. ▪ The remark was made in jest. ▪ They sure left in a hurry! ▪ We held a banquet in his honor. [=to honor him] ▪ They went in search of lost treasure. [=to search for lost treasure] ▪ She moved to the city in hopes of finding a better job. [=with the hope that she would find a better job] ▪ They increased the penalties in an attempt to discourage lawbreakers.
11 —used to make a statement or description more limited or specific in meaning ▪ They are slow in their movements. [=their movements are slow] ▪ The two are alike in some ways/respects. [=they have some similarities] ▪ It measures two feet in length. [=it is two feet long] ▪ The idea works in theory, but not in practice. ▪ In a way, it makes sense. [=it makes sense if you consider a particular fact, idea, etc.]
12 —used to indicate the person who is being described ▪ We've lost a valuable employee in Mike. ▪ In her, you have a true friend.
13 —used to indicate the object of a belief, opinion, or feeling ▪ Have a little faith in them! ▪ Do you believe in ghosts? [=do you think ghosts are real?] ▪ I really don't know what she sees in him. [=I don't know why she likes/loves him] ▪ I have no interest in sports. [=sports do not interest me]
14 —used to indicate a job or area of activity ▪ She has a job in marketing. ▪ I hear he's in advertising. [=he has a job that involves advertising] ▪ She's struggling in math.
15 —used to indicate the existence of something as a part of someone's character ▪ He has no pity in him. ▪ I tried to be tough with them, but I just didn't have it in me. [=I wasn't able to be tough with them]
16 : wearing (something) as clothes ▪ He showed up in his best suit. ▪ the boy in the red jacket ▪ a lady in black [=a lady wearing black clothes]
17 —used to describe how common something is by comparing a smaller number to a larger number ▪ This condition affects one in five [=1 in 5; one out of every five] Americans.