2 in
Pronounced:
/ˈɪn/
Function:
adverbMeaning:
1 : to or toward the inside of something (such as a building) ▪ She went in and closed the door. ▪ I lost my keys and now I can't get in. ▪ Please come in! ▪ The burglars broke in through the kitchen window. ▪ The pool is deep. Be careful not to fall in. ▪ Is everyone in [=inside]? Then we can start. ▪ The shot went in. [=into the goal]
2 a : to or toward a place ▪ They flew in yesterday. ▪ The boss called us in for a conference. ▪ The fog was closing in fast. ▪ The tide is coming in. [=towards shore] ▪ Get your orders in early! b : at the place where someone or something arrives after traveling ▪ Is the train in yet? ▪ We expect to get in around noon. [=we expect to arrive around noon]
3 : at or inside a home, office, etc. ▪ The doctor is in. [=the doctor is in his/her office and is available to see patients] ▪ Are your parents in? [=are your parents at home?]
4 : at or to a location that is near to something or that seems near to something ▪ The coach told them to play closer in. [=nearer to the area where the most activity is happening or is expected to happen] ▪ Pull the car further in. [=closer to the curb, house, etc.]
5 a : in a way that will blend into or join with something ▪ Gradually mix in the flour. b : to or at a proper or indicated place ▪ I can't seem to fit this piece in. ▪ Please fill in your name and address on the application. c : in a way that will agree or be in harmony ▪ Do you think he'll fit in with the other kids?
6 : in a way that surrounds something or someone or prevents something or someone from leaving ▪ They fenced in the property. = They fenced the property in. [=they put a fence around the property] ▪ After the blizzard we were snowed in for a week. [=we could not leave our home because of the snow] —sometimes used in combination ▪ a house with a fenced-in yard
7 : in the position of someone who is involved or participating in something ▪ Count me in. [=include me in your plans] ▪ “Does anyone want to go to a movie tonight?” “Sure, I'm in.” [=I want to go] ▪ She was in at the beginning/start, when the company began.
8 : in or into a position or job ▪ They voted him in [=they elected him] by an overwhelming margin.
9 : in a friendly relationship with someone ▪ She was in with the city's most powerful people. [=she had friendly relationships with the city's most powerful people] ; also : in a specified sort of relationship ▪ He got in good/bad with the boss. [=he was liked/disliked by the boss]
10 : present or in your possession and available for use ▪ Are all the votes/results in?
11 sports : inside the area where players or the ball must stay in sports like tennis, basketball, and American football : not out of bounds ▪ Her serve was just barely in.
2 a : to or toward a place ▪ They flew in yesterday. ▪ The boss called us in for a conference. ▪ The fog was closing in fast. ▪ The tide is coming in. [=towards shore] ▪ Get your orders in early! b : at the place where someone or something arrives after traveling ▪ Is the train in yet? ▪ We expect to get in around noon. [=we expect to arrive around noon]
3 : at or inside a home, office, etc. ▪ The doctor is in. [=the doctor is in his/her office and is available to see patients] ▪ Are your parents in? [=are your parents at home?]
4 : at or to a location that is near to something or that seems near to something ▪ The coach told them to play closer in. [=nearer to the area where the most activity is happening or is expected to happen] ▪ Pull the car further in. [=closer to the curb, house, etc.]
5 a : in a way that will blend into or join with something ▪ Gradually mix in the flour. b : to or at a proper or indicated place ▪ I can't seem to fit this piece in. ▪ Please fill in your name and address on the application. c : in a way that will agree or be in harmony ▪ Do you think he'll fit in with the other kids?
6 : in a way that surrounds something or someone or prevents something or someone from leaving ▪ They fenced in the property. = They fenced the property in. [=they put a fence around the property] ▪ After the blizzard we were snowed in for a week. [=we could not leave our home because of the snow] —sometimes used in combination ▪ a house with a fenced-in yard
7 : in the position of someone who is involved or participating in something ▪ Count me in. [=include me in your plans] ▪ “Does anyone want to go to a movie tonight?” “Sure, I'm in.” [=I want to go] ▪ She was in at the beginning/start, when the company began.
8 : in or into a position or job ▪ They voted him in [=they elected him] by an overwhelming margin.
9 : in a friendly relationship with someone ▪ She was in with the city's most powerful people. [=she had friendly relationships with the city's most powerful people] ; also : in a specified sort of relationship ▪ He got in good/bad with the boss. [=he was liked/disliked by the boss]
10 : present or in your possession and available for use ▪ Are all the votes/results in?
11 sports : inside the area where players or the ball must stay in sports like tennis, basketball, and American football : not out of bounds ▪ Her serve was just barely in.
all in
informal : very tired ▪ I'm all in. I'm going to bed.
in for
informal : sure to experience (something) ▪ Boy, is she in for a surprise! —see also have it in for at have
in for it —see 1for
in on
◊If you are in on something you have knowledge about it or are involved in it. ▪ They were all in on the scheme. ▪ The characters are convinced that they're on another planet, but the audience is in on the joke. [=the audience knows they are not on another planet] ▪ I let them in on our little secret. [=I told them our secret]
in that
—used to introduce a statement that explains or gives more specific information about what you have just said ▪ The book is good, in that it's well written, but I didn't actually like reading it.