in

1 /In/ preposition

1 used 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 spends a lot of time driving round in his car. | She spent the day in bed. | He spent fifteen years in prison.

2 used with the names of countries and towns to say where someone or something is: Mr Fisher is in Boston this week. | The taxi man got lost in Manchester. | My parents live in New Zealand now.

3 used with the names of months, years, seasons etc to say when something happens: He first visited Russia in 1937. | These changes first started in the 1840s. | He retired in October.

4 during a period of time: It was amazing how much we managed to do in a day.

5 at the end of a period of time: I'll be with you in a minute. | I think he'll be a millionaire in a year or two.

6 if you have not done something in several weeks, years etc you have not done it for that period of time: I haven't enjoyed myself so much in years.

7 included as part of something: She said all this in her speech. | Your shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

8 working at a particular kind of job: She used to be a teacher, but she's in marketing now. | He's been in politics for fifteen years.

9 wearing something: He looked very handsome in his uniform. | She was dressed in a blue linen suit.

10 using a particular way of talking or writing: Her parents always talk to her in German | She shouted my name in a harsh voice. | The children are only allowed to write in pencil.

11 arranged so as to form a particular shape or group: The soldiers stood in a line and waited for orders. | People were sitting in small groups chatting. | Arrange the words in alphabetical order.

12 used with numbers or amounts to show a proportion: One in every 10 children now suffers from asthma

13 used to show a connection between two things: We need a further increase in investment. | Milk is very rich in calcium. | She never showed any interest in music. | an expert in human biology

14 used to show the feelings you have when you do something: She looked at me in horror. | It was all done purely in fun.

15 used to say how one person should consider another: You've got a very good friend in Pat. | We have a very good candidate in Peter Dobrowski

16 in all as a total amount: There were about 800 people in all.

17 in that because: The situation is rather complicated in that we have two managing directors.

18 in all used when giving a total amount: There were about 800 people in all.

19 in doing sth when or by doing something: In raising money to support her work, Baker made contact with many organisations that were sympathetic to her ideas.

2 adverb

1 so as to be contained inside something or surrounded by it: She opened the cupboard and put the tins in. | He picked up a glass and poured some water in.

2 inside a building, especially the building where you live or work: I'm afraid Mr Stewart won't be in until tomorrow morning. | She's never in when I call. | We're staying in this evening.

3 if 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 if you send something in, you send it to an organization, where it will be dealt with: All entries must be in by next week. | Letters have been pouring in from all over the country.

5 if you write, paint, or draw something in, you add it: Fill in your name and address on the form provided. | The information is typed in by trained keyboarders.

6 if clothes, colours etc are in, they are fashionable: Stripes are definitely in this summer.

7 if a person or team is in, they are batting (bat2 (1)) in a game such as cricket (2): Surrey have chosen to go in first.

8 if a ball is in during a game, it is inside the area where the game is being played: Her second serve was just in.

9 be in for sth if someone is in for something unpleasant, it is going to happen to them: I'm afraid he's in for a bit of a disappointment.

10 be in for it informal if someone is in for it, they are going to be punished: We're really in for it now.

11 be/get in on sth to be involved in something that is happening: I think you ought to be in on this discussion, Ted.

12 have (got) it in for sb informal if someone has got it in for you, they do not like you and want to cause problems or difficulties for you: I think the teacher's really got it in for me.

13 if something falls or turns in, it falls or turns towards the centre: The map had started to curl in at the edges.

14 if a boat or the tide 1 (1) comes in, it comes towards the shore: The tide was coming in. | The boat drifted in to the shore.

15 be in with sb informal to be friendly with someone: She's in with the theatrical crowd.

16 be in at sth to be present when something happens: I was lucky enough to be in at the start of the research project.

3 adjective

1 informal clothes or colours that are in are fashionable: Red is definitely the in colour this year. | Long skirts are in at the moment.

2 (only before a noun) an in joke is a private joke that is understood by only a small group of people