Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words
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- ️Tue Jul 04 2023
View synonyms for in-
a suffix, occurring in adjectives of Greek and Latin origin, meaning “pertaining to,” and (in nouns thence derived) also imitated in English ( coffin; cousin , etc.).
a prefix of Latin origin meaning primarily “in,” but used also as a verb-formative with the same force as in- 1
( incarcerate; incantation ).
a noun suffix used in a special manner in chemical and mineralogical nomenclature ( glycerin; acetin , etc.). In spelling, usage wavers between -in and -ine. In chemistry a certain distinction of use is attempted, basic substances having the termination -ine rather than -in ( aconitine; aniline , etc.), and -in being restricted to certain neutral compounds, glycerides, glucosides, and proteids ( albumin; palmitin , etc.), but this distinction is not always observed.
a prefix of Latin origin, corresponding to English un-, having a negative or privative force, freely used as an English formative, especially of adjectives and their derivatives and of nouns ( inattention; indefensible; inexpensive; inorganic; invariable ). It assumes the same phonetic phases as in- 2
( impartial; immeasurable; illiterate; irregular , etc.). In French, it became en- and thus occurs unfelt in such words as enemy (French ennemi, Latin inimicus, lit., not friendly).
a suffixal use of the adverb in, extracted from sit-in, forming compound nouns, usually from verbs, referring to organized protests through or in support of the named activity ( kneel-in; chain-in; be-in ) or, more generally, to any organized social or cultural activity ( cook-in; sing-in ).
preposition
(used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits):
walking in the park.
(used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial):
in politics; in the autumn.
(used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time):
in ancient times; a task done in ten minutes.
(used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.):
to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance.
(used to indicate means):
sketched in ink; spoken in French.
(used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within) into:
Let's go in the house.
(used to indicate transition from one state to another):
to break in half.
(used to indicate object or purpose):
speaking in honor of the event.
adverb
in or into some place, position, state, relation, etc.:
Please come in.
in one's house or office.
in possession or occupancy.
having the turn to play, as in a game.
Baseball. (of an infielder or outfielder) in a position closer to home plate than usual; short:
The third baseman played in, expecting a bunt.
He's in with his boss, but he doubts it will last.
Informal. in vogue; in style:
He says straw hats will be in this year.
Watermelons will soon be in.
adjective
located or situated within; inner; internal:
the in part of a mechanism.
in favor with stylish or trendy people; currently popular:
the in thing to do.
the in place to dine;
the in thing to do.
keeping up with the latest trends and fashions:
the in clique at school.
Informal. comprehensible only to a special or ultrasophisticated group:
an in joke.
well-liked; included in a favored group.
inward; incoming; inbound:
an in train.
being in power, authority, control, etc.:
a member of the in party.
Golf. of or relating to the playing of the last nine holes of an eighteen-hole golf course ( out
):
His in score on the second round was 34.
noun
a member of the political party in power:
The election made him an in.
pull or influence; a social advantage or connection:
He's got an in with the senator.
(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) a return or service that lands within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of a court ( out
).
verb (used with object)
British Dialect.
inned, inning.
abbreviation for
(approved especially for use with zip code).
abbreviation for
abbreviation for
the chemical symbol for
abbreviation for
suffix forming nouns
indicating a neutral organic compound, including proteins, glucosides, and glycerides
digitoxin
tripalmitin
insulin
indicating an enzyme in certain nonsystematic names
pepsin
indicating a pharmaceutical substance
aspirin
riboflavin
penicillin
indicating a chemical substance in certain nonsystematic names
coumarin
prefix
irregular
incredible
illegal
insincere
imperfect
/ ɪn /
preposition
no smoking in the auditorium
at a place where there is
lying in the shade
walking in the rain
indicating a state, situation, or condition
in a deep sleep
standing in silence
before or when (a period of time) has elapsed
come back in one year
using (a language, etc) as a means of communication
written in code
concerned or involved with, esp as an occupation
in journalism
expressing a ratio, proportion, or probability
one in five boys
while or by performing the action of; as a consequence of or by means of
in crossing the street he was run over
used to indicate goal or purpose
in honour of the president
(used of certain animals) about to give birth to; pregnant with (specified offspring)
she fell in the water
he tore the paper in two
have it in one
often foll by an infinitive to have the ability (to do something)
in it informal.
in that or in so far as
conjunction because or to the extent that; inasmuch as
I regret my remark in that it upset you
nothing in it
no difference or interval between two things
adverb
in or into a particular place; inward or indoors
so as to achieve office, power, or authority
the Conservatives got in at the last election
(in certain games) so as to take one's turn or one's team's turn at a certain aspect of the play; taking one's innings
you have to get the other side out before you go in
do you keep the fire in all night?
in combination indicating an activity or gathering, esp one organized to protest against something
in at
present at (the beginning, end, etc)
in between
in for
about to be affected by (something, esp something unpleasant)
you're in for a shock
in on
acquainted with or sharing in
I was in on all his plans
in with
associated with; friendly with; regarded highly by
have it in for or have got it in for informal.
to wish or intend harm towards
adjective
stressed fashionable; modish
the in thing to do
you've got to be in to win
noun
ins and outs
intricacies or complications; details
the ins and outs of a computer system
the internet domain name for
prefix
in; into; towards; within; on
having an intensive or causative function
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Word History and Origins
Origin of in-2
Middle English -in, -ine < Old French < Latin -inus, -ina, -inum < Greek -inos, -inē, -inon
Origin of in-6
First recorded before
900;
1925–30
in fordef 29;
Middle English, Old English; cognate with German, Dutch, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic in, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek en, Lithuanian į
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Word History and Origins
Origin of in-1
from New Latin -ina; compare
-ine
²
Origin of in-2
from Latin in-; related to ne-, nōn not
Origin of in-3
Old English; compare Old High German in, Welsh yn, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek en
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Idioms and Phrases
be in for,
to be bound to undergo something, especially a disagreeable experience:
We are in for a long speech.
in for it, Slang.
about to suffer chastisement or unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions or omissions:
Also
British, for it.
I forgot our anniversary again, and I'll be in for it now.
in that,
because; inasmuch as:
In that you won't have time for supper, let me give you something now.
in with,
on friendly terms with; familiar or associating with:
They are in with all the important people.
More idioms and phrases containing in-
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Synonym Study
The prefixes
in-
and
un-
may both have, among other uses, a negative force.
In-
is the form derived from Latin, and is therefore used in learned words or in words derived from Latin or (rarely) Greek:
inaccessible, inaccuracy, inadequate,
etc.
Un-
is the native form going back to Old English, used in words of native origin, and sometimes used in combination with words of other origins if these words are in common use:
unloving, ungodly, unfeeling, unnecessary, unsafe.
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Example Sentences
The new program will begin in late April.
Daniels also will be senior Washington correspondent for MSNBC, which is building its own news operation after being part of NBC News since its launch in 1996.
Daniels joined Politico in 2018 and was co-author of its popular morning newsletter “Politico Playbook.”
While Reid was considered the most left-leaning of MSNBC’s hosts, her departure does not portend a change in direction at the network, which has a tribal following among political progressives.
Available directly on the Los Angeles Times homepage, this content includes continuous live camera feeds from iconic locations in Los Angeles, from Hollywood to Malibu.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.