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Added 9 October 2026

in

/ən/ noun

Categories: Describing WordsNatureEveryday Words

In Latin: in Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about in at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot.
  2. A rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite.
  3. A state in midwestern United States.

adjective

  1. Holding office.
    the in party
  2. Directed or bound inward.
    took the in bus
  3. Currently fashionable.
    the in thing to do

adverb

  1. To or toward the inside of.
    come in

Origin

PIE word *h₁en Preposition and verb from Middle English in, from Old English in, from Proto-Germanic *in. Adverb, noun and adjective from Middle English in, from Old English inn and inne, from Proto-Germanic *innai. Sense 1/2 "in"/"into" are from the original PIE prefix, with locative/accusative case respectively. Sense 3/4 "qualification"/"means" are from the PIE metaphor of all infinitives coming from locatives.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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