in
prep
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 while or by performing the action of; as a consequence of or by means of
in crossing the street he was run over
8 used to indicate goal or purpose
in honour of the president
9 (used of certain animals) about to give birth to; pregnant with (specified offspring)
in foal, in calf
10 a variant of →
into
she fell in the water, he tore the paper in two
11 ♦
have it in one often foll by an infinitive to have the ability (to do something)
12 ♦
in it (Austral)
informal joining in; taking part
13 ♦
in that or in so far as conj because or to the extent that; inasmuch as
I regret my remark in that it upset you
14 ♦
nothing, very little, quite a bit, etc., in it no, a great, etc., difference or interval between two things
adv particle
15 in or into a particular place; inward or indoors
come in, bring him in
16 so as to achieve office, power, or authority
the Conservatives got in at the last election
17 so as to enclose
block in, cover in a hole
18 (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
19 (Brit) (of a fire) alight
do you keep the fire in all night?
20 in combination indicating an activity or gathering, esp. one organized to protest against something
teach-in, work-in
21 ♦
in at present at (the beginning, end, etc.)
23 ♦
in for about to be affected by (something, esp. something unpleasant)
you're in for a shock
24 ♦
in on acquainted with or sharing in
I was in on all his plans
25 ♦
in with associated with; friendly with; regarded highly by
26 ♦
have (got) it in for
Informal to wish or intend harm towards
adj
27 stressed fashionable; modish
the in thing to do
28 (N.Z.) competing
you've got to be in to win
n
29 ♦
ins and outs intricacies or complications; details
the ins and outs of a computer system
(Old English; compare Old High German in, Welsh yn, Old Norse i, Latin in, Greek en)