In Word Meaning

Old English in (preposition), inn, inne (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German in (preposition), German ein (adverb), from an Indo-European root shared by Latin in and Greek en

expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else

expressing situation of being enclosed

• I'm living in London
• dressed in their Sunday best
• she saw the bus in the rear-view mirror

expressing a period of time during which an event happens or a situation remains the case

expressing period during which event happens

• they met in 1885
• at one o'clock in the morning
• I hadn't seen him in years

expressing the length of time before a future event is expected to happen

expressing time before expected event

• I'll see you in fifteen minutes

(often followed by a noun without a determiner) expressing a state or condition

expressing state or condition

• to be in love
• I've got to put my affairs in order
• a woman in her thirties

expressing inclusion or involvement

expressing inclusion or involvement

• I read it in a book
• acting in a film

indicating someone's occupation or profession

indicating occupation or profession

• she works in publishing

indicating the language or medium used

indicating language or medium used

• say it in French
• put it in writing

as an integral part of (an activity)

as integral part of

• in planning public expenditure it is better to be prudent

expressing a value as a proportion of (a whole)

expressing value as proportion of whole

• a local income tax running at six pence in the pound

expressing movement with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else

expressing movement resulting in becoming enclosed

• come in
• presently the admiral breezed in

expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something

expressing situation of being enclosed

• we were locked in

expressing arrival

expressing arrival

• the train got in very late

(of the tide) rising or at its highest level.

(of tide) rising

present at one's home or office

present at home or office

• we knocked at the door but there was no one in

fashionable

fashionable

• pastels and light colours are in this year
• the in thing to do

(of the ball in tennis and similar games) landing within the designated playing area.

within designated playing area

batting

batting

• which side is in?

a position of influence with someone powerful or famous

position of influence with someone powerful

• she got an in with the promising new artist