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

Is pickling my insides a moderate amount going to ruin my gut health? —Betsy Andrews, Saveur, 9 Jan. 2025

The large inside features a zippered main compartment and interior pocket, while an exterior zippered pocket will keep smaller valuables secure. —Kaitlin Gates, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2025

Adverb

As the blaze raged on, firefighters dousing the flames from inside were pulled out, fearing a structural collapse. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025

In terms of foundational skills, Mobley’s defence, inside and out, is the one that is easiest to see propping up a team for years. —Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Bryce Watts Hansen, wife of former professional football free agent Chad Hansen, gave her TikTok viewers an inside look at her family's finances when her husband was in the league and debunked the misconception that all NFL WAGs are millionaires. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025

In practice, the show doesn’t much resemble the podcast, which offers a fascinating inside look at life in the Permian Basin. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Preposition

On top of that, the Bills placed a premium on containing Nix inside the pocket and limiting his scramble opportunities. —Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025

There are also screw holes, so PC builders could install it via a 360 mm radiator mounting point inside their PC case. —Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2025

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