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

Our walks were historical tours; my father knew everything about the park but its inside. —Nicolaia Rips, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024

The robot voiced by Shawkat is clearly an important character from the beginning because of how it’s being changed, physically and emotionally, by Vesta’s organic matter growing in its insides, and Hollow tearing it apart is an impetus for Azi to realize the depth of her feelings for her friend. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 May 2024

Adverb

Each home boasts open concepts with spacious layouts perfect for entertaining, walls of windows that bring the outdoors inside, and modern kitchens featuring butler’s pantries, chic décor, and vibrant color schemes. —Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2024

Dry root balls repel moisture and the irrigation water runs around the outer edge to never wet the soil inside. —Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2024

Adjective

On Thursday, Panasonic plant officials provided an inside look of their construction progress to members of the media, giving the group behind the scenes access to the facility as construction continues. —Lonyae Coulter, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2024

At one hour, your vehicle's inside temperature can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. —Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 21 June 2024

Preposition

Evelyn shuddered inside the blazer’s warmth and Donald put an arm tentatively around her shoulders. —Tessa Hadley, The New Yorker, 23 June 2024

For most sports documentarians, a chance to get inside access to the Dallas Cowboys organization would be the gig of a lifetime. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 23 June 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