From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishinin1 /ɪn/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 IN/INSIDEused with the name of a container, place, or area to say where someone or something is There’s some sugar in the cupboard. My mother was in the kitchen. He took us for a drive in his new car. I found her sitting up in bed. Manson spent fifteen years in prison. a hole in the ground Mr Fisher is in Boston this week. My parents live in New Zealand now.2 into a container, place etc I never went in pubs. He almost drowned when he fell in the river. You can put your pyjamas in the bottom drawer. Get in the car. She looked in her handbag, but her keys were not there.3 TALK TO somebodyWRITEused to say how something is done or happens a room furnished in the modern style Her parents always talk to her in German. She shouted my name in a harsh voice. a short note scribbled in pencil The title was printed in capital letters. We waited in silence.4 TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIMEused with the names of months, years, seasons etc to say when something happens Shaw first visited Russia in 1927. Bright yellow flowers appear in late summer. He retired in October.5 DURINGduring a period of time It was amazing how much we managed to do in a day. the hardest decision I ever made in my lifeGrammar• You say: I got a card from my sister this morning. I hope to go to Europe next summer. ✗Don’t say: in this morning | in next summer• You say: The group meets three times a month. ✗Don’t say: three times in a month• You can say in one week, month etc when emphasizing how often something happens: He was stopped for speeding three times in one month. 6 AFTERat the end of a period of time I’ll be with you in a minute. The results will be announced in two weeks’ time.► see thesaurus at after7 PERIOD OF TIMEused with negatives or with ‘first’ to say how much time has passed since the last time something happened I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in years. It was the team’s first win in eighteen months.8 IN/INSIDEused to name the book, document, film etc where something or someone appears You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspapers. Which actress starred in the film ‘Cleopatra’? There are a few mistakes in your essay. In his speech, Professor Leary praised the work of the volunteers.9 making up the whole of something or included as part of something There are twelve programmes in the series. How many minutes are there in an hour? Think of a word with eight letters in it meaning ‘cold’. Owen will be playing in the England team tomorrow.10 JOB/WORKdoing or affecting a particular kind of job a career in industry He’s been in politics for fifteen years. reforms in education 11 WEAR CLOTHESwearing something He looked very handsome in his uniform. She was dressed in a blue linen suit.12 used to talk about the state or situation of something or someone I hear that their marriage is in trouble. The engine appears to be in good condition. His life was in danger. The castle now lies in ruins.13 used to say what activity a group of people do About 4,000 students took part in the protest. his role in the negotiations14 used to talk about the shape, arrangement, or course of something or someone I want you all to stand in a circle. She slept curled up in a ball. Can you walk in a straight line?15 HMNUMBERused between a smaller number and a larger number to say how common or how likely something is One in ten homes now has cable TV. Smokers have a one in three chance of dying from their habit. 16 used before a plural number or amount to say how many people or things are involved, or how many there are in each group Eggs are still sold in half dozens. The children work in pairs.in their hundreds/thousands etc (=in very large numbers) People flocked in their thousands to greet their new princess.17 used between a smaller number or amount and a larger one to say what a rate is Income tax stands at 23 pence in the pound. a hill with a gradient of one in six18 used to say what colour something is or what it is made of Do you have the same pattern in blue? a sculpture in white marble19 CONNECTED WITHused to say what specific thing your statement is related to Milk is very rich in calcium. Clark had become more extreme in his opinions. an increase in fuel prices The street is about a mile in length.20 used to refer to the weather or the physical conditions somewhere I’ve been standing in the rain for over an hour. Would you prefer to sit in the shade? 21 SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDEused to say what feeling you have when you do something She looked at me in horror. It was all done purely in fun.22 RELATIONSHIPused before the name of someone or something when you are saying how they are regarded You have a very good friend in Pat. In Dwight D. Eisenhower the Republicans had found the ideal candidate.23 used to say what person or thing has the quality you are mentioning There was a hint of spring in the air. I don’t think Freddy had it in him to be a killer. She’s everything I’d want in a wife (=she has every quality I would want a wife to have).24 used to name the substance, food, drink etc that contains something Vitamin D is found in butter.25 used to say how many parts something is divided into a radio serial in four partsin two/halves/pieces etc I tore the letter in two and threw the pieces in the fire. 26 while doing something or while something is happening, and as a result of this In all the confusion, it is quite possible that some people got tickets without paying. In my excitement, I forgot all about the message.in doing something In trying to protect the queen, Howard had put his own life in danger.27 → in that28 → be in your 20s/30s/40s etc → in all at all1(11)
Examples from the Corpus
in• I'll be back in a couple of days.• Everybody stand against the wall in a straight line.• Gerry should be home in an hour.• a couple of boys in baseball caps• His early comedies were filmed in black and white.• He lived in Boston for four years.• "How old is Philip now?" "He's four in December".• Francis and his friend were drinking tea in his room.• All these memories of Judith are still fresh in my mind.• Did you read that article in "Newsweek"?• an expert in nuclear physics• Do not write in pen on this test.• Homelessness is a major problem in society today.• European manufacturers are facing ever increasing competition from companies in the Far East.• He made a bowl in the shape of a heart.• He did a lot of abstract art in the sixties, but he's moved on since then.• He died in the war.• "Where's Annie?" "She's in the yard."• Bob's out working in the yard.• Everyone in town knew Archie.in their hundreds/thousands etc• Even at its end the members were still rolling-in in their thousands - 4000-5000 a week in Greenpeace's case.• London's influence was thus widespread, and the gardens attributed to him may be numbered in their hundreds.• Small livestock farmers have gone to the wall in their thousands.• They throng the streets and mini-timbered buildings of Gumnutland in their hundreds.• We count monkeys in the trees and macaws at their clay licks where they congregate in their hundreds.• Rats in their thousands fed on the grain in the Government stores while the people went hungry.• We had come to Phang Nga to visit the limestone islands that rear in their hundreds from the bay.• They came in their thousands to see the boss on his 1993 world tour.in two/halves/pieces etc• It carved the daemon in two.• The attack on the nobility is found in two aspects of the plot.• It it opened the year by yielding 76 combined points in two losses.• Particles in two places at once?• This led to frustration in two respects.• And oil was dropped in two spills between Ballaspur and Glen Helen-on some of the circuit's earlier corners.• Experience which conflicts with a so far accepted theory can be treated in two ways.• That triggered a rush of new rules -- more than 1,100 in two weeks -- to beat the 1995 deadline. in doing something• In reading the story, I felt nothing but sympathy for the victims.inin2 ●●● S1 W1 adverb 1 IN/INSIDEinto or inside a container, place, vehicle etc OPP out Eric held the boat steady while the children got in. He went to the ticket machine and put a coin in. She dived in and swam out to the yacht.2 HEREinside or into a building, especially your home or the place where you work OPP out Come in and sit down. I’m afraid Mr Stewart won’t be in until tomorrow morning. We’re staying in this evening.3 ARRIVEif a train, boat, or plane is in, it has arrived at a station, airport etc Our train’s not in yet. When’s her flight due in?4 ARRIVEgiven or sent to a person or organization to be dealt with by them All entries must be in by next week. Letters have been pouring in from all over the country. Have you handed your essay in yet?5 PROVIDEif you write, paint, or draw something in, you add it in the correct place Fill in your name and address on the form provided. The information is typed in by trained keyboarders. 6 DSif a player or team is in during a game of cricket, they are batting (bat)7 DSif a ball is in during a game, it is inside the area where the game is being played OPP out Agassi’s second serve was just in.8 if a politician or a political party is in, they have been elected Labour recorded its highest vote ever, but the Tories got in again.9 MIDDLEtowards the centre SYN inward(s) The map had started to curl in at the edges.10 TTWwhen the tide is in, the sea by the shore is at its highest level OPP out The tide was in, and the sea lapped against the harbour wall. 11 → be in for something12 → be in for it13 → be/get in on something14 → be in with somebody15 → be in at the beginning/start (of something) → have (got) it in for somebody at have2(41)Examples from the Corpus
in• What time does his bus get in?• Don't write out cheques to your adviser - always make them payable to the company you're investing in.• Nothing remained that had not been ripped, smashed or kicked in.• Her second serve was just in.• She pushed the box toward me so that I could put my money in.• Should we wait out here, or should we go in?• Long hair is in again.• Alistair rushed in as we hoard the record loudly scraped off the turntable.• Your final papers have to be in by Friday.• Jody puts Jess in, hoping her intensity will spark some-thing.• The Republicans are in now, but for how long?• We need to make plans for next week, so are you in or out?• Can you color in this picture of a teddy bear for me?• You're never in when I call.• Ms. Shaewitz isn't in yet this morning.• Her flight's not in yet.• Write in your name and address at the bottom.inin3 adjective informalFASHIONABLE fashionable OPP out Red is definitely the in colour this year. Long skirts are in at the moment. I joined the club because it seemed the in thing to do.► see thesaurus at fashionableExamples from the Corpus
in• Gstaad is the in place to go skiing in winter.• Cycling to work has become the in thing to do.• Purple seems to be in this year.inin4 noun 1 → the ins and outs of something2 [singular] especially American English a way of getting the opportunity to do something or influence someone The job is pretty boring, but it’s an in to a career in publishing.inin5 British English, in. American English (plural in or ins) the written abbreviation of inch or inchesin-in- /ɪn/ prefix NOTthe opposite or lack of something SYN not, → un-, il-, im-, ir- insensitive (=not sensitive) incautious (=not cautious) inattention (=lack of attention)Examples from the Corpus
in-• income• inward• to insert somethingININthe written abbreviation of IndianaFrom Longman Business Dictionaryinin written abbreviation for INCH or INCHESOrigin in- French Latin in1 Old English 