in-

¹

1. a prefix representing English in (income; indwelling; inland , etc.), but used also as a verb-formative with transitive, intensive, or sometimes little apparent force (intrust; inweave , etc.). It often assumes the same forms as in-, such as en-, em-, im-.

-in

²

1. 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.).

in-

³

1. a prefix of Latin origin meaning primarily “in,” but used also as a verb-formative with the same force as in- (incarcerate; incantation ).

-in

⁴

1. 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.

in-

⁵

1. 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- (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).

-in

⁶

1. 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 ).

in

⁷

[in]

preposition

1. (used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits).

   walking in the park.

2. (used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial).

   in politics; in the autumn.

3. (used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time).

   in ancient times; a task done in ten minutes.

4. (used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.).

   to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance.

5. (used to indicate means).

   sketched in ink; spoken in French.

6. (used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within) into.

   Let's go in the house.

7. (used to indicate transition from one state to another).

   to break in half.

8. (used to indicate object or purpose).

   speaking in honor of the event.

adverb

1. in or into some place, position, state, relation, etc..

   Please come in.

2. on the inside; within.

3. in one's house or office.

4. in office or power.

5. in possession or occupancy.

6. having the turn to play, as in a game.

7. Baseball.,  (of an infielder or outfielder) in a position closer to home plate than usual; short.

   The third baseman played in, expecting a bunt.

8. on good terms; in favor.

   He's in with his boss, but he doubts it will last.

9. Informal.,  in vogue; in style.

   He says straw hats will be in this year.

10. in season.

    Watermelons will soon be in.

adjective

1. located or situated within; inner; internal.

   the in part of a mechanism.

2. Informal.

   1. in favor with stylish or trendy people; currently popular: the in thing to do.

      the in place to dine;

      the in thing to do.

   2. keeping up with the latest trends and fashions.

      the in clique at school.

3. Informal.,  comprehensible only to a special or ultrasophisticated group.

   an in joke.

4. well-liked; included in a favored group.

5. inward; incoming; inbound.

   an in train.

6. plentiful; available.

7. being in power, authority, control, etc..

   a member of the in party.

8. 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

1. Usually ins persons in office or political power (outs ).

2. a member of the political party in power.

   The election made him an in.

3. pull or influence; a social advantage or connection.

   He's got an in with the senator.

4. (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 

1. to enclose.

In

⁸

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. indium.

IN

⁹

abbreviation

1. Indiana (approved especially for use with zip code).

in.

¹⁰

abbreviation

1. inch; inches.

in-

¹

prefix

1. not; non- Compare un- 1

   incredible

   insincere

   illegal

   imperfect

   irregular

in

²

/ ɪn /

preposition

1. inside; within

   no smoking in the auditorium

2. at a place where there is

   lying in the shade

   walking in the rain

3. indicating a state, situation, or condition

   in a deep sleep

   standing in silence

4. before or when (a period of time) has elapsed

   come back in one year

5. using (a language, etc) as a means of communication

   written in code

6. concerned or involved with, esp as an occupation

   in journalism

7. expressing a ratio, proportion, or probability

   one in five boys

8. while or by performing the action of; as a consequence of or by means of

   in crossing the street he was run over

9. used to indicate goal or purpose

   in honour of the president

10. (used of certain animals) about to give birth to; pregnant with (specified offspring)

    in foal

    in calf

11. a variant of into

    she fell in the water

    he tore the paper in two

12. (often foll by an infinitive) to have the ability (to do something)

13. informal,  joining in; taking part

14. (conjunction) because or to the extent that; inasmuch as

    I regret my remark in that it upset you

15. no difference or interval between two things

adverb

1. in or into a particular place; inward or indoors

   come in

   bring him in

2. so as to achieve office, power, or authority

   the Conservatives got in at the last election

3. so as to enclose

   block in

   cover in a hole

4. (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

5. (of a fire) alight

   do you keep the fire in all night?

6. (in combination) indicating an activity or gathering, esp one organized to protest against something

   teach-in

   work-in

7. present at (the beginning, end, etc)

8. between

9. about to be affected by (something, esp something unpleasant)

   you're in for a shock

10. acquainted with or sharing in

    I was in on all his plans

11. associated with; friendly with; regarded highly by

12. informal,  to wish or intend harm towards

adjective

1. (stressed) fashionable; modish

   the in thing to do

2. competing

   you've got to be in to win

noun

1. intricacies or complications; details

   the ins and outs of a computer system

in

³

abbreviation

1. India

in-

⁴

prefix

1. in; into; towards; within; on

   infiltrate

   immigrate

2. having an intensive or causative function

   inflame

   imperil

in.

⁵

abbreviation

1. inch(es)

In

⁶

symbol

1. indium

IN

⁷

abbreviation

1. Indiana

-in

⁸

suffix

1. indicating a neutral organic compound, including proteins, glucosides, and glycerides

   insulin

   digitoxin

   tripalmitin

2. indicating an enzyme in certain nonsystematic names

   pepsin

3. indicating a pharmaceutical substance

   penicillin

   riboflavin

   aspirin

4. indicating a chemical substance in certain nonsystematic names

   coumarin

in.

1. Abbreviation of inch

Word History and Origins

Origin of in-¹

Middle English, Old English; in

Origin of in-²

Middle English -in, -ine < Old French < Latin -inus, -ina, -inum < Greek -inos, -inē, -inon

Origin of in-³

From Latin, combining form of in (preposition); cognate with in

Origin of in-⁴

< New Latin -ina. See -ine ²

Origin of in-⁵

< Latin; akin to an- ¹, a- ⁶, un- ¹

Origin of in-⁶

First recorded before 900; 1925–30 in for def. 29; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German, Dutch, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic in, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek en, Lithuanian į

Word History and Origins

Origin of in-¹

from Latin in-; related to ne-, nōn not

Origin of in-²

Old English; compare Old High German in, Welsh yn, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek en

Origin of in-³

from _in (prep, adv)

Origin of in-⁴

from New Latin -ina; compare _-ine ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be in for, to be bound to undergo something, especially a disagreeable experience.

   We are in for a long speech.

2. in for it, about to suffer chastisement or unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions or omissions: Also for it.

   I forgot our anniversary again, and I'll be in for it now.

3. in with, on friendly terms with; familiar or associating with.

   They are in with all the important people.

4. in that, because; inasmuch as.

   In that you won't have time for supper, let me give you something now.

In addition to the idioms beginning with in, also see under out of.

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.

Example Sentences

“He was learning all these traditional Appalachian instruments, and I said, ‘That’s awesome because my house is set in the Dust Bowl.’”

From Los Angeles Times

That work, he says, will be released in 2027 due to planned 2026 touring obligations with Guns N’ Roses.

From Los Angeles Times

He says he first visited Disneyland in the early 1970s.

From Los Angeles Times

“But I love theme parks in general,” he continues.

From Los Angeles Times

Slash was first drawn to the event in 2013 due to a haunted house themed around the music and images of Black Sabbath.

From Los Angeles Times