in

inpreposition

In places something inside a space or a period of time, or shows the condition, the clothing, or the manner something is in.

1. inside an area or spaceinside a place, area, container, or other enclosed space

   • The keys are in my bag.
   • They live in a small town.
   • There's milk in the fridge.
   • She's in the kitchen.

   Collocations

   preposition + noun in the bag, in the room, in town

   Synonyms inside

   Compare at (in names an area with edges around it, such as a room or a city; at names an exact point, such as an address); into (in shows position already inside; into shows movement toward the inside); within

2. within a period of timeduring or within a particular period of time, such as a month, year, or season

   With a length of time such as five minutes, in can also mean "when that time has passed": I'll be back in five minutes means after five minutes.

   • We got married in June.
   • The book is set in the 1800s.
   • I'll be back in five minutes.
   • It rarely snows in spring here.

   Compare on (in is for longer periods, such as months, years, and seasons; on is for days and dates; at is for a precise clock time)

3. wearingwearing a particular piece of clothing or color

   • The woman in the red coat waved at us.
   • He always dresses in black.
   • Everyone came in costume.

4. a state or conditionwithin a particular state, condition, or situation

   • The house is in good condition.
   • She's in a hurry.
   • We're in trouble.
   • The company is in debt.

   Collocations

   phrase in trouble, in a hurry, in good condition, in debt

5. arranged asusing a particular shape, group, or manner

   • Please stand in a line.
   • They sat in a circle.
   • Write your name in capital letters.
   • She spoke in a whisper.