1
used as a function word to indicate entry, introduction, insertion, superposition, or inclusion
came into the house
enter into an alliance
2
: in the direction of
looking into the sun
3
: to a position of contact with : against
ran into a wall
4
a
: to the state, condition, or form of
got into trouble
b
: to the occupation, action, or possession of
go into farming
c
: involved with or interested in
into sports
not into her music
5
used as a function word to indicate a period of time or an extent of space part of which is passed or occupied
far into the night
6
used as a function word to indicate the dividend in division
dividing 3 into 6 gives 2

Examples of into in a Sentence

She came into the room. a medicine injected into the bloodstream Please put the bowl into the sink. They were heading into town.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This meant many people started to want to be comedians, which fed into that culture of competition. Ollie Barder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 He was eventually steered into boxing through the Lone Star state’s Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps program. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025 But on the latest installation of Rolling Stone Recommends, the musician taps into the more feral feelings that come with playing competitive card games with friends, the idea of being monstrously hungry on Survivor, and recovering from watching David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025 Our questions were intended to tap into perceptions of the other side’s lifestyles and cultural values, in addition to policy attitudes. Betsy Sinclair, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for into

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English intō, from in entry 2 + to

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of into was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Into.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/into. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

into

preposition
1
used to indicate entry, introduction, or inclusion
came into the room
enter into an agreement
2
a
: to the state, condition, or form of
got into trouble
divide into four parts
b
: to the occupation, action, or possession of
go into farming
3
: against sense 4
ran into a wall
4
: involved with or interested in
was never into abstract art

More from Merriam-Webster on into

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!