in·side
(ˌ)in-ˈsīd 
ˈin-ˌsīd
ˈin-ˌsīd
1
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
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
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
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
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
Daisy Jones, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025
Perhaps the most impressive achievement of the day belonged to Shiffrin, who showed the necessary grit 10 weeks after her crash caused severe trauma to her oblique muscles and left her insides draining out of a deep puncture wound on the side of her abdomen.
—Andrew Dampf, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2025
Chelsea Bailey, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
There aren’t many frills to setting—folding metal chairs and mismatched tables inside, picnic tables with blue umbrellas on the deck out back—but the lineup of spirits and barbecue is over the top.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, the defense again played its role, denying the easy inside baskets and forcing the Eagles to shoot from outside, which was not their strength.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2025
On the night of the Academy Awards, as the year’s best picture is revealed, attendees inside the Dolby Theatre sit through the thank-you speech, tears and applause.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inside
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
With its spiky, tentacle-like leaves and gooey insides, everyone wants an aloe vera plant on their window.
—Daisy Jones, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025
Perhaps the most impressive achievement of the day belonged to Shiffrin, who showed the necessary grit 10 weeks after her crash caused severe trauma to her oblique muscles and left her insides draining out of a deep puncture wound on the side of her abdomen.
—Andrew Dampf, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2025
Adverb
In response, students, as well as people unaffiliated with the school, entered Columbia’s Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves inside.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
There aren’t many frills to setting—folding metal chairs and mismatched tables inside, picnic tables with blue umbrellas on the deck out back—but the lineup of spirits and barbecue is over the top.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Murray started 14 games as Tennessee's inside linebacker last year, securing 95 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one interception.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, the defense again played its role, denying the easy inside baskets and forcing the Eagles to shoot from outside, which was not their strength.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Preposition
The victim was inside Tom & Jerry’s on Elizabeth St. near E. Houston St. in NoHo about 3:20 a.m. when the gunman, who was outside on the street, started shooting into the establishment, police said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2025
On the night of the Academy Awards, as the year’s best picture is revealed, attendees inside the Dolby Theatre sit through the thank-you speech, tears and applause.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inside
Articles Related to inside
Cite this Entry
“Inside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inside. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inside
1 of 4 noun
in·side
(ˈ)in-ˈsīd
ˈin-ˌsīd
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 adjective1
: 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 preposition1
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 adverb1
: on the inside
the car is clean inside
2
: in or into the interior
went inside
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share