Meaning & use
in
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Meanings
preposition
Inside a place, container, or area.
Grammar: Followed by a noun phrase: in the box, in London.
Patterns
- in something
The keys are in my bag.
She lives in a small village.
There's a lot of sugar in this cake.
preposition
During a period of time.
Grammar: Used with months, years, seasons, and parts of the day: in July, in 2020, in the morning.
Patterns
- in + time period
We met in 2019.
He likes to read in the evening.
It often rains in April.
preposition
Involved in or belonging to something.
Grammar: Shows membership or participation: in a club, in a team.
Patterns
- in something
She is in the school choir.
Are you in the group chat?
He works in finance.
adjectivenot comparableinformal
Fashionable or popular at the moment.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb: That color is in this year.
Patterns
- be in
Short skirts are in again this summer.
That restaurant is very in right now.
Common combinations
- in fact
- I thought it would be easy; in fact, it was very hard.
- in front of
- The car stopped in front of the house.
- in order to
- She left early in order to catch the train.
- in love
- They fell in love at first sight.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inside
- Inside is more specific and often contrasts with outside; in is more general and common.
- within
- Within is more formal and often used for time limits or boundaries, not for physical containers.
Opposites
Commonly confused: in or on? in or at?
in vs on
In means inside a space (in the room), while on means touching a surface (on the table).
in vs at
At is used for a point or location (at the door), while in suggests being inside an area.
Practice
Choose the correct preposition: 'I'll see you ______ Friday.'
Choose one answer.
We use 'on' with days of the week. 'In' is used with months and years, 'at' with clock times, and 'by' means 'no later than'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.