Etymology 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.
Many English nouns in -is form their plurals in -es, while those in kn- are pronounced just /n/-.
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Into.
Less water gets in your boots this way.
She stood there looking in the window longingly.
1 more example
The ball was accidentally kicked in Kevin Nolan's face in the opening seconds of the contest – an incident that set the tone for an extremely uncomfortable encounter for the Premier League side.2011 January 8, Paul Fletcher, “Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle”, in BBC:
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By (doing something); indicating action causing an effect or achieving a purpose.
In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment.
In trying to make amends, she actually made matters worse.
3 more examples
My aim in travelling there was to find my missing friend.
Although severely provoked, she showed admirable restraint in not retaliating.
In returning to the vault, I had no very sure purpose in mind; only a vague surmise that this finding of Blackbeard's coffin would somehow lead to the finding of his treasure.[1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
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Indicating an order or arrangement.
My fat rolls around in folds.
The planes flew over in waves.
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Arrange the chairs in a circle.
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Denoting a state of the subject.
He stalked away in anger.
John is in a coma.
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My fruit trees are in bud.
The company is in profit.
I'm pleased we manage to get within range of each other. We kiss in greeting and he seems in good spirits.1988 February 21, Marea Murray, “Coming Out In Unexpected Ways”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 31, page 7:
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Indicates, connotatively, a place-like form of someone's (or something's) personality, as his, her or its psychic and physical characteristics.
You've got a friend in me.
He's met his match in her.
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Pertaining to; with regard to.
There has been no change in his condition.
What grade did he get in English?
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six inches in depth
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As to have sufficient or plentiful amounts of.
The fruit trees in the yard keep me in apples and pears for most of the year.
› Used to indicate means, medium, format…
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In the form of, in the denomination of.
Of something offered or given in an exchange
Please pay me in cash — preferably in tens and twenties.
The deposit can be in any legal tender, even in gold.
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Her generosity was rewarded in the success of its recipients.
[…] tourists sometimes attempt to pay in euros or British pounds.2014, Carla Bethmann, Clean, Friendly, Profitable?: Tourism, page 114:
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Used to indicate a language, script, tone, etc. of a text, speech, etc.
Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" in C minor is among his most popular.
His speech was in French, but was simultaneously translated into eight languages.
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When you write in cursive, it's illegible.
Military letters should be formal in tone, but not stilted.
Etymology 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.
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
in
adv
Etymology 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.
1
At or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.
Suddenly a strange man walked in.
Would you like that to take away or eat in?
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He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in.
Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
2
Towards the speaker or other reference point.
They flew in from London last night.
For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out.
3
So as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.
Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in.
4
After the beginning of something.
The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in.
The Black Cats had a mountain to climb after James Morrison's header and Shane Long's neat side-foot finish gave Albion a 2-0 lead five minutes in.2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2-2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
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In compounds, After a verb Denotes a gathering of people assembled for the stated activity, sometimes, though not always, suggesting a protest.
sing-in, pray-in, hug-in; see also be-in, love-in, sit-in, teach-in.
in
noun
Etymology 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.
1
A position of power or influence, or a way to get it.
His parents got him an in with the company.
Holleran's and White's diminishing capacities as writers does not affect their publishing ins': the writer the house knows is always better than the writer the house doesn't know.1987 February 1, T. R. Witomski, “Zeitgeist or Poltergeist? Why Gay Books Are So Bad”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 28, page 9:
2
In plural One who, or that which, is in; especially, one who is in office.
This memoir has nothing to do with the question between the ins and the outs; it is intended neither to support nor to assail the administration; it is general in its views upon a general and national subject; […]1827, Benjamin Chew, A Sketch of the Politics, Relations, and Statistics, of the Western World, page 192:
3
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The state of a batter/batsman who is currently batting; see innings.
Etymology 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.
“[…] He […] took a rifle out of the batch and shot at me. I was lucky he was such a crummy shot.” “Why would he do that?” “I think he's in with them, Doctor.” “Them? You mean Ned and Cody?” “All of them. Hickok, the split tail, the whole lot.”2010, Joe R. Lansdale, Flaming Zeppelins: The Adventures of Ned the Seal, page 123:
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Informal Having a favourable position, such as a position of influence or expected gain, in relation to another person.
I need to keep in with the neighbours in case I ever need a favour from them.
I think that bird fancies you. You're in there, mate!
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I saw this thing on ITV the other week, Said, that if she played with her hair, she's probably keen She's playing with her hair, well regularly, So I reckon I could well be in.2004, The Streets, “Could Well Be In”:
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Of fire or fuel (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) Burning; ablaze.
Blocks of compressed coal keep the fire in for a long time, but they give out very little heat.1888, H.C. O’Neill, Edith A. Barnett, Our Nurses and the Work They Have to Do, page 81:
“At all events,” said the Doctor, “the fire’s in, and here’s the camp-oven, too. Somebody will be here soon. I will go in and light my pipe.”1894, Henry Kingsley, The Recollections of Geoffry Hamlyn - Volume 2, page 183:
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Was there any person in your own house at Renmore to keep the fire in while you were here?.1901, William Francis Barry, The Wizard’s Knot, page 231:
Normally when they camped in the wild they took turns to sit up and keep the fire in while the others slept, […].2011, Rosemary Sutcliff, The Eagle of the Ninth Chronicles:
He turned and started making up the range to keep the fire in overnight, and heard the front door click and Grant’s motor fire up. Sleep. He needed to sleep.2019, A.L.Lester, Shadows on the Border:
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Having used, consumed , or invested a certain amount.