in

alternative colloquial poetic i'

1. Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or abstract limits.
   1. Contained by; inside.

      The dog is in the kennel.

      1 more example

      There were three pickles in a jar.

   2. Within the bounds or limits of.

      He sat in the chair.

      4 more examples

      I like living in the city.

      There are lots of trees in the park.

      She stood in the spotlight.

      GDP measures the total value of output in an economic territory.

      2013 August 3, “Boundary problems”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847

   3. Surrounded by; among; amidst.

      Her plane is in the air.

      2 more examples

      We are in the enemy camp.

      Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!

   4. Wearing (an item of clothing).

      Who’s the blonde in the sunhat over there?

      2 more examples

      I glanced over at the pretty girl in the red dress.

      Officers stopped all cars to look in the back seats and trunks, looking for a girl in pink.

      2026 July 25, Nicholas Muhoro, “The Last Call of Jo-Anne Pedersen, the Girl Who Vanished From a Payphone”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026

   5. Expressing abstract containment.

      He hasn't got an original idea in him.

      1 more example

      There wasn't much of interest in her speech.

   6. Part of; a member of; out of; from among.

      She's in an orchestra.

      1 more example

      You are one in a million.

   7. During (a period of time or event).

      Easter falls in the fourth lunar month.

      4 more examples

      My birthday is in the first week of December.

      The country reached a high level of prosperity in his first term.

      We lost that painting in the move to our new house.

      Dr. Brewer-Carias, who discovered the canyon in 1976, named is Valle de los Cristales—"valley of the crystals."

      1989 May, Uwe George, “Venezuela's Islands in Time”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 542

   8. Within (a certain elapsed time); by the end of.

      Will you be able to finish this in a week?

      1 more example

      The massacre resulted in over 1000 deaths in three hours.

   9. At the end of (a period of time).

      They said they would call us in a week.

   10. Participating in a field, activity or industry.

       She dabbles in Buddhism.

       1 more example

       I've always worked in plastics.

   11. grammarCharacterized by.

       Many English nouns in -is form their plurals in -es, while those in kn- are pronounced just /n/-.

2. As to enter; from outside to inside; into.

   Less water gets in your boots this way.

   2 more examples

   She stood there looking in the window longingly.

   The ball was accidentally kicked in Kevin Nolan's face in the opening seconds of the contest – an incident that set the tone for an extremely uncomfortable encounter for the Premier League side.

   2011 January 8, Paul Fletcher, “Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle”, in BBC

   1. As to enter a driveway, parking lot, etc.

      Turn in to the second house on the left.

3. By (doing something); indicating action causing an effect or achieving a purpose.

   My aim in travelling there was to find my missing friend.

   4 more examples

   In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment.

   In trying to make amends, she actually made matters worse.

   Although severely provoked, she showed admirable restraint in not retaliating.

   In returning to the vault, I had no very sure purpose in mind; only a vague surmise that this finding of Blackbeard's coffin would somehow lead to the finding of his treasure.

   [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC

4. Indicating an order or arrangement.

   My fat rolls around in folds.

   2 more examples

   The planes flew over in waves.

   Arrange the chairs in a circle.

5. Denoting a state of the subject.

   John is in a coma.

   4 more examples

   He stalked away in anger.

   My fruit trees are in bud.

   The company is in profit.

   I'm pleased we manage to get within range of each other. We kiss in greeting and he seems in good spirits.

   1988 February 21, Marea Murray, “Coming Out In Unexpected Ways”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 31, page 7

6. Indicates, connotatively, a place-like form of someone's (or something's) personality, as his, her or its psychic and physical characteristics.

   You've got a friend in me.

   1 more example

   He's met his match in her.

7. Pertaining to; with regard to.

   six inches in depth

   2 more examples

   There has been no change in his condition.

   What grade did he get in English?

8. As to have sufficient or plentiful amounts of.

   The fruit trees in the yard keep me in apples and pears for most of the year.

9. Used to indicate means, medium, format, genre, or instrumentality.
   1. In the form of, in the denomination of.

      The deposit can be in any legal tender, even in gold.

      3 more examples

      Please pay me in cash — preferably in tens and twenties.

      Her generosity was rewarded in the success of its recipients.

      […] tourists sometimes attempt to pay in euros or British pounds.

      2014, Carla Bethmann, Clean, Friendly, Profitable?: Tourism, page 114

   2. Used to indicate a language, script, tone, etc. of a text, speech, etc.

      When you write in cursive, it's illegible.

      3 more examples

      Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" in C minor is among his most popular.

      His speech was in French, but was simultaneously translated into eight languages.

      Military letters should be formal in tone, but not stilted.

present singular third person ins · participle present inning · participle past inned · past inned · alternative colloquial poetic i'

1. obsoletetransitiveTo enclose.
2. obsoletetransitiveTo take in; to harvest.

   He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

alternative colloquial poetic i'

1. not comparableAt or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.

   Suddenly a strange man walked in.

   3 more examples

   Would you like that to take away or eat in?

   He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in.

   Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

2. not comparableTowards the speaker or other reference point.

   They flew in from London last night.

   1 more example

   For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out.

3. not comparableSo as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.

   Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in.

   1 more example

   I was tired enough to snuggle in with the dogs on the couch and sleep there.

4. not comparableAfter the beginning of something.

   The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in.

   1 more example

   The Black Cats had a mountain to climb after James Morrison's header and Shane Long's neat side-foot finish gave Albion a 2-0 lead five minutes in.

   2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2-2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport

5. in compoundsnot comparableDenotes a gathering of people assembled for the stated activity, sometimes, though not always, suggesting a protest.

   sing-in, pray-in, hug-in; see also be-in, love-in, sit-in, teach-in.

plural ins · alternative colloquial poetic i'

1. A position of power or influence, or a way to get it.

   His parents got him an in with the company.

   1 more example

   Holleran's and White's diminishing capacities as writers does not affect their publishing ins': the writer the house knows is always better than the writer the house doesn't know.

   1987 February 1, T. R. Witomski, “Zeitgeist or Poltergeist? Why Gay Books Are So Bad”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 28, page 9

2. in pluralOne who, or that which, is in; especially, one who is in office.

   This memoir has nothing to do with the question between the ins and the outs; it is intended neither to support nor to assail the administration; it is general in its views upon a general and national subject; […]

   1827, Benjamin Chew, A Sketch of the Politics, Relations, and Statistics, of the Western World, page 192

   Antonyms: out

3. hobbiesThe state of a batter/batsman who is currently batting; see innings.

comparative more in · superlative most in · alternative colloquial poetic i'

1. not comparableLocated indoors, especially at home or at one's office or place of work.

   Is Mr. Smith in?

2. not comparableLocated inside something.

   The bullet is about five centimetres in.

   1 more example

   Little by little I pushed the snake into the basket, until finally all of it was in.

3. hobbiesFalling or remaining within the bounds of the playing area.

   If the tennis ball bounces on the line then it's in.

4. Inserted or fitted into something.

   I've discovered why the TV wasn't working – the plug wasn't in!

5. Having been collected or received.

   The replies to the questionnaires are now all in.

   1. In stock, available in stores (particularly of a new item).

      Our latest product is in!

6. In fashion; popular.

   Skirts are in this year.

   1 more example

   Pierce a new hole If Hell was in you'd give your soul To the great southern trendkill

   1996, “The Great Southern Trendkill”, performed by Pantera

7. Incoming.

   the in train

8. nauticalFurled or stowed.
9. Of the tide, at or near its highest level.

   You can't get round the headland when the tide's in.

10. lawWith privilege or possession; used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin.

    in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband

11. ball gamesCurrently batting.
12. Having familiarity or involvement with somebody.

    He is very in with the Joneses.

    1 more example

    “[…] He […] took a rifle out of the batch and shot at me. I was lucky he was such a crummy shot.” “Why would he do that?” “I think he's in with them, Doctor.” “Them? You mean Ned and Cody?” “All of them. Hickok, the split tail, the whole lot.”

    2010, Joe R. Lansdale, Flaming Zeppelins: The Adventures of Ned the Seal, page 123

13. informalHaving a favourable position, such as a position of influence or expected gain, in relation to another person.

    I think that bird fancies you. You're in there, mate!

    2 more examples

    I need to keep in with the neighbours in case I ever need a favour from them.

    I saw this thing on ITV the other week, Said, that if she played with her hair, she's probably keen She's playing with her hair, well regularly, So I reckon I could well be in.

    2004, The Streets, “Could Well Be In”

14. (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) Burning; ablaze.

    Was there any person in your own house at Renmore to keep the fire in while you were here?.

    1901, William Francis Barry, The Wizard’s Knot, page 231

    4 more examples

    Blocks of compressed coal keep the fire in for a long time, but they give out very little heat.

    1888, H.C. O’Neill, Edith A. Barnett, Our Nurses and the Work They Have to Do, page 81

    “At all events,” said the Doctor, “the fire’s in, and here’s the camp-oven, too. Somebody will be here soon. I will go in and light my pipe.”

    1894, Henry Kingsley, The Recollections of Geoffry Hamlyn - Volume 2, page 183

    Normally when they camped in the wild they took turns to sit up and keep the fire in while the others slept, […].

    2011, Rosemary Sutcliff, The Eagle of the Ninth Chronicles

    He turned and started making up the range to keep the fire in overnight, and heard the front door click and Grant’s motor fire up. Sleep. He needed to sleep.

    2019, A.L.Lester, Shadows on the Border

15. Having used, consumed , or invested a certain amount.

    I'm three drinks in right now.

    1 more example

    I was 500 dollars in when the stock crashed.

plural ins · alternative in.

1. abbreviationAbbreviation of inch or inches.

   At a length of 36cm (14in), the red-bellied piranha was a giant of its kind – more than eight inches longer than an average specimen.

   2009 August 28, Alexandra Topping, “Giant piranha found in Devon river”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 27 Aug 2025

   2 more examples

   Donaldson is not by any means one of God’s chosen entertainment-industry stars. He’s not especially handsome, and neither is he particularly funny-looking. At 6ft 5in, and with the sparse reddish beard he nowadays sports, he has the charmingly awkward aspect of a teen who has recently put on a growth spurt and hasn’t quite settled into himself.

   2025 June 3, Mark O’Connell, “‘The Mozart of the attention economy’: why MrBeast is the world’s biggest YouTube star”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 07 Jun 2025

   Although it has no dimensions, strain is usually expressed in units represented as ε, which is in/in or mm/mm. Since the magnitude of the measured strain is small, the standard practice is to use units of microstrain (µε), which is [ε x 10^-6].

   (Can we date this quote?), “What is a Strain Gage?”, in Micro-Measurements, archived from the original on 13 Dec 2025

1. abbreviationpostalAbbreviation of Indiana: a state of the United States.
2. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Ilocos Norte: a province of the Ilocos Region, Philippines.

1. abbreviationuncountablebiochemistryAbbreviation of integrase.
2. abbreviationuncountableAbbreviation of internegative; a type of film stock, most commonly used regarding 35mm motion picture negative