Meaning & use
fenced in
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“fenced in” is a form of “fence in”.
Meanings
adjectiveafter a verb
Surrounded by a fence, so that animals or people cannot easily leave or enter the space.
Grammar: Usually follows be: the garden is fenced in.
Patterns
- be fenced in by something
The pony stayed in the fenced in paddock all night.
Our yard is fenced in, so the dog can run safely.
The playground is fenced in on three sides.
adjectiveafter a verbfigurative
Feeling restricted or trapped by rules, other people or lack of space.
Grammar: Often follows feel: she felt fenced in by her family's expectations.
Patterns
- feel fenced in
- be fenced in by something
He felt fenced in by the endless rules at work.
Living in a tiny apartment, she felt fenced in.
Teenagers sometimes feel fenced in by strict curfews.
Common combinations
- feel fenced in
- I felt fenced in after weeks indoors.
- fenced in by rules
- The team was fenced in by tight budget rules.
- a fenced in yard
- They wanted a fenced in yard for the dog.
- completely fenced in
- The site is completely fenced in.
Synonyms and how they differ
- enclosed
- This is more formal and can mean any kind of boundary, not only a fence.
- hemmed in
- This suggests being squeezed from all sides, especially by people or buildings.
- boxed in
- This is more figurative and suggests having no room to move.
- confined
- This is more formal and focuses on being kept within limits.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fenced in or fenced off?
fenced in vs fenced off
Fenced off means a section is separated with a fence so people cannot enter, while fenced in means something is surrounded.
Practice
She loved the job but felt ___ by all the rules.
Choose one answer.
Fenced in expresses feeling restricted. Fenced off means separated, and the others do not fit the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fenced in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.