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

While the cockles could give the algae some light by periodically opening their shells, doing so would leave their tender insides vulnerable to predators. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2024

New stonework has been carefully pieced together to repair and fill the wounds that had left the cathedral’s insides exposed to the elements. —Thomas Adamson and John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024

Adverb

What's inside: The now-law transfers $227 million to the state's Helene disaster recovery fund, $100 million for a loan program for water and wastewater repairs after Helene and $100 million for loans to local governments in areas affected by the storm. —Lucille Sherman, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024

Hundley also recommends using a strong spray from a garden hose to rinse off your tree before bringing it inside. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The Live with Kelly and Mark hosts offered an inside look at their N.Y.C. townhouse during a video tour with Architectural Digest on Tuesday, Dec. 10. —Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

Art of the Surge, which is produced by Ashokan Studios, provided an inside look to President-elect Donald Trump's 2024 campaign. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Preposition

Mbappe scored a sensational goal against Atalanta in the Champions League inside 10 minutes on Tuesday, but then asked to be brought off 25 later. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

For the number, viewers caught a glimpse of the exterior rooftop, which featured a massive billboard depicting the breakout star inside the venue and eventually brought viewers into the hotel. —James Dinh, Billboard, 13 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