in

in¹ W1S1 [ın] prep

[: Old English;]

1.) used with the name of a container, place, or area to say where someone or something is

▪ There's some sugar in the cupboard.

▪ My mother was in the kitchen.

▪ He took us for a drive in his new car.

▪ I found her sitting up in bed.

▪ Manson spent fifteen years in prison.

▪ a hole in the ground

▪ Mr Fisher is in Boston this week.

▪ My parents live in New Zealand now.

see usage note ↑at

2.) into a container, place etc

▪ I never went in pubs.

▪ He almost drowned when he fell in the river.

▪ You can put your pyjamas in the bottom drawer.

▪ Get in the car.

▪ She looked in her handbag, but her keys were not there.

3.) used to say how something is done or happens

▪ a room furnished in the modern style

▪ Her parents always talk to her in German.

▪ She shouted my name in a harsh voice.

▪ a short note scribbled in pencil

▪ The title was printed in capital letters.

▪ We waited in silence.

4.) used with the names of months, years, seasons etc to say when something happens

▪ Shaw first visited Russia in 1927.

▪ Bright yellow flowers appear in late summer.

▪ He retired in October.

5.) during a period of time

▪ It was amazing how much we managed to do in a day.

▪ the hardest decision I ever made in my life

6.) at the end of a period of time

▪ I'll be with you in a minute.

▪ The results will be announced in two weeks' time.

see usage note ↑after¹ see usage note ↑by¹

7.) used with negatives or with 'first' to say how much time has passed since the last time something happened

▪ I haven't enjoyed myself so much in years.

▪ It was the team's first win in eighteen months.

8.) used to name the book, document, film etc where something or someone appears

▪ You shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

▪ Which actress starred in the film 'Cleopatra'?

▪ There are a few mistakes in your essay.

▪ In his speech Professor Leary praised the work of the volunteers.

9.) making up the whole of something or included as part of something

▪ There are twelve programmes in the series.

▪ How many minutes are there in an hour?

▪ Think of a word with eight letters in it meaning 'cold'.

▪ Owen will be playing in the England team tomorrow.

10.)doing or affecting a particular kind of job

▪ a career in industry

▪ He's been in politics for fifteen years.

▪ reforms in education

11.) wearing something

▪ He looked very handsome in his uniform.

▪ She was dressed in a blue linen suit.

12.) used to talk about the state or situation of something or someone

▪ I hear that their marriage is in trouble.

▪ The engine appears to be in good condition.

▪ His life was in danger.

▪ The castle now lies in ruins.

13.) used to say what activity a group of people do

▪ About 4000 students took part in the protest.

▪ his role in the negotiations

14.) used to talk about the shape, arrangement, or course of something or someone

▪ I want you all to stand in a circle.

▪ She slept curled up in a ball.

▪ Can you walk in a straight line?

15.) used between a smaller number and a larger number to say how common or how likely something is

▪ One in 10 homes now has cable TV.

▪ Smokers have a one in three chance of dying from their habit.

16.) used before a plural number or amount to say how many people or things are involved, or how many there are in each group

▪ Eggs are still sold in half dozens.

▪ The children work in pairs.

in their hundreds/thousands etc

(=in very large numbers)

▪ People flocked in their thousands to greet their new princess.

17.) used between a smaller number or amount and a larger one to say what a rate is

▪ Income tax stands at 23 pence in the pound.

▪ a hill with a gradient of one in six

18.) used to say what colour something is or what it is made of

▪ Do you have the same pattern in blue?

▪ a sculpture in white marble

19.) used to say what specific thing your statement is related to

▪ Milk is very rich in calcium.

▪ Clark had become more extreme in his opinions.

▪ an increase in fuel prices

▪ The street is about a mile in length.

20.)used to refer to the weather or the physical conditions somewhere

▪ I've been standing in the rain for over an hour.

▪ Would you prefer to sit in the shade?

21.) used to say what feeling you have when you do something

▪ She looked at me in horror.

▪ It was all done purely in fun.

22.) used before the name of someone or something when you are saying how they are regarded

▪ You have a very good friend in Pat.

▪ In Dwight D. Eisenhower the Republicans had found the ideal candidate.

23.) used to say what person or thing has the quality you are mentioning

▪ There was a hint of spring in the air.

▪ I don't think Freddy had it in him to be a killer.

▪ She's everything I'd want in a wife (=she has every quality I would want a wife to have) .

24.) used to name the substance, food, drink etc that contains something

▪ Vitamin D is found in butter.

25.) used to say how many parts something is divided into

▪ a radio serial in four parts

in two/halves/pieces etc

▪ I tore the letter in two and threw the pieces in the fire.

26.) while doing something or while something is happening, and as a result of this

▪ In all the confusion, it is quite possible that some people got tickets without paying.

▪ In my excitement, I forgot all about the message.

in doing sth

▪ In trying to protect the queen, Howard had put his own life in danger.

27.) in that

used after a statement to begin to explain in what way it is true

▪ I've been lucky in that I have never had to worry about money.

28.) be in your 20s/30s/40s etc

to be between the ages of 20 and 29, 30 and 39 etc

▪ Matthews was already in his mid 40s.

→in all at ↑all¹ (11)

in ²

in² W1S1 adv

1.) into or inside a container, place, vehicle etc

≠ ↑out

▪ Eric held the boat steady while the children got in.

▪ He went to the ticket machine and put a coin in.

▪ She dived in and swam out to the yacht.

2.) inside or into a building, especially your home or the place where you work

≠ ↑out

▪ Come in and sit down.

▪ I'm afraid Mr Stewart won't be in until tomorrow morning.

▪ We're staying in this evening.

3.) if a train, boat, or plane is in, it has arrived at a station, airport etc

▪ Our train's not in yet.

▪ When's her flight due in?

4.) given or sent to a person or organization to be dealt with by them

▪ All entries must be in by next week.

▪ Letters have been pouring in from all over the country.

▪ Have you handed your essay in yet?

5.) if you write, paint, or draw something in, you add it in the correct place

▪ Fill in your name and address on the form provided.

▪ The information is typed in by trained keyboarders.

6.) if a player or team is in during a game of ↑cricket, they are batting

7.) if a ball is in during a game, it is inside the area where the game is being played

≠ ↑out

▪ Agassi's second serve was just in.

8.) if a politician or a political party is in, they have been elected

▪ Labour recorded its highest vote ever, but the Tories got in again.

9.) towards the centre

= ↑inward(s)

▪ The map had started to curl in at the edges.

10.)when the ↑tide is in, the sea by the shore is at its highest level

≠ ↑out

▪ The tide was in, and the sea lapped against the harbour wall.

11.) be in for sth

if someone is in for something unpleasant, it is going to happen to them

▪ I'm afraid he's in for a bit of a disappointment.

12.) be in for it informal

if someone is in for it, they are going to be punished

▪ If they find out what I've done, I'll be in for it, won't I?

13.) be/get in on sth

to be or become involved in something that is happening

▪ I think you ought to be in on this discussion, Ted.

14.) be in with sb informal

to have a friendly relationship with someone

▪ She's in with the theatrical crowd.

▪ You have to be well in with the directors (=be very friendly with them) if you want to get promotion here.

15.) be in at the beginning/start (of sth)

to be present or involved when something starts

▪ I was lucky enough to be in at the start of the project.

→have (got) it in for sb at ↑have² (41)

in ³

in³ BrE in. AmE plural in or ins

the written abbreviation of inch or inches

in ⁴

in⁴ adj

informal fashionable

≠ ↑out

▪ Red is definitely the in colour this year.

▪ Long skirts are in at the moment.

▪ I joined the club because it seemed the in thing to do.

in ⁵

in⁵ n

the ins and outs of sth

all the facts and details of something

▪ The book guides you through the ins and outs of choosing and growing garden flowers.