inside

1 of 4

noun

in·​side (ˌ)in-ˈsīd  ˈin-ˌsīd 

1

a

: an interior or internal part or place : the part within

b

: inward nature, thoughts, or feeling

c

: viscera, entrails

—usually used in plural

2

: an inner side or surface

3

a

: a position of power, trust, or familiarity

only someone on the inside could have told

b

: confidential information

has the inside on what happened at the convention

4

: the area nearest a specified or implied point of reference: such as

a

: the side of home plate nearest the batter

b

: the middle portion of a playing area

c

: the area near or underneath the basket in basketball

inside

2 of 4

adverb

1

: on the inner side

2

: in or into the interior

stayed inside during the storm

3

: to or on the inside

4

: in prison

inside

3 of 4

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being on or near the inside

an inside pitch

2

a

: relating or known to a select group

inside information

b

: behind-the-scenes

inside

4 of 4

preposition

1

a

: in or into or as if in or into the interior of

waited inside the church

b

: on the inner side of

just inside the door

2

: within

inside an hour

Synonyms

Noun

• innards
• interior
• within

Adjective

• behind-the-scenes
• confidential
• esoteric
• hush-hush
• hushed
• intimate
• nonpublic
• private
• privy
• secret

Examples of inside in a Sentence

Noun

The inside of the church is quite beautiful.

I've never seen the inside of a computer before.

Adverb

I cleaned my car inside and out.

The candy is chewy inside.

We went inside during the storm.

Step inside and look at our menu.

He got put inside for burglary.

Adjective

the inside edge of her foot

He gave us an inside view of the situation.

I got the inside story from a friend who works there.

Preposition

We waited inside the store.

Several people were trapped inside the burning building.

She kept her hands inside her pockets.

His feelings were building up inside him.

He lives inside the city limits.

Sources inside the company indicate that there are disagreements about the change in management.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Shoes off for inside Like in many other parts of Asia, Singaporean homes have a strictly no-shoes-inside rule. —Audrey Phoon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024

Vele pushed vertically up the field, gave a head-fake inside that kept cornerback Decamerion Richardson on his heels and then eventually snapped off his route to the inside. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2024

Adverb

Whatever cookies were left over got sent home with guests in Tupperware — or more often, an old Country Crock tub — with a slice of white bread stuck inside to keep it fresh. —Megan Thielking, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024

Guedes played a simple pass inside for the unmarked Matheus Cunha, left to run free by Boubakary Soumare, who beat Ward again, though at least the Welshman got a hand on this one but could only push it against the post. —Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The film provides an inside look at the stand-up comedy world, exploring the struggles and insecurities faced by someone like George, whose career and personal life serve as a lens through which the movie examines the price of fame and the ways humor can both connect and isolate people. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

The project is aptly named Turf Wars and is an inside look at Tennessee high school football’s facilities arms race. —Tyler Palmateer, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Preposition

Sources inside the league’s officiating department told The Times that there’s some hesitation about getting fully behind someone who hasn’t officiated. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024

Once inside our cells, the viruses can crank out hundreds to thousands of progeny, thus causing an active infection. —Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing inside

• deep down (inside)
• inside address
• inside baseball
• inside job
• inside joke
• inside of
• inside out
• inside the door
• inside track
• inside voice
• know something inside and out
• know something inside out
• on the inside
• the inside
• the inside dope
• the inside scoop
• the inside/straight/real skinny
• the inside track
• turn (something) inside out

Kids Definition

inside

1 of 4 noun

in·​side (ˈ)in-ˈsīd  ˈin-ˌsīd 

1

: an inner side or surface

2

a

: an interior or internal part

b

: inward nature, thoughts, or feeling

c

: entrails

—usually used in plural

inside

2 of 4 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being on or near the inside

an inside wall

2

: relating or known to a special group of people

inside information

inside

3 of 4 preposition

1

a

: in or into the interior of

they are inside the house

b

: on the inner side of

put the dot inside the curve

2

: before the end of : within

inside an hour

inside

4 of 4 adverb

1

: on the inside

the car is clean inside

2

: in or into the interior

went inside