/ɪn ||; ɪn/adv prepFor special uses with many nouns, for example in time, look at the noun entries. For special uses with many verbs, for example give in, look at the verb entries. 介词in可与许多名词连用，如in time，其用法参看有关名词词条。副词in可与许多动词连用，如give in，其用法参看有关动词词条。 1 (used to show place) inside or to a position inside a particular area or object （表示地方）在某范围内: a country in Africa 一个非洲国家an island in the Pacific 太平洋上的一个岛屿in a box 在箱子里I read about it in the newspaper. 我在报纸上看到这个消息。He lay in bed. 他躺在床上。She put the keys in her pocket. 她把钥匙放在口袋里。His wife's in hospital. 他妻子进医院了。She opened the door and went in. 她把门打开进去了。My suitcase is full. I can't get any more in. 我的提箱满了，再也装不下什么东西。When does the train get in (= to the station)? 火车什么时候到站？
2 at home or at work 在家里或工作的地方: I phoned him last night but he wasn't in. 我昨晚给他挂电话，可是他不在家。She won't be in till late today. 她今天要很晚才回家。
3 (showing time) during a period of time （表示时间）在某段时间内: My birthday is in August. 我的生日在八月。in spring/summer/autumn/winter 在春天╱夏天╱秋天╱冬天He was born in 1980. 他生于1980年。You could walk there in about an hour (= it would take that long to walk there). 走一个钟头左右就到那儿。
4 (showing time) after a period of time （表示时间）某段时间后: I'll be finished in ten minutes. 我十分钟后可以做完。
5 wearing sth 穿着…: They were all dressed in black for the funeral. 葬礼上人人都穿着黑色衣服。I've never seen you in a suit before. 以前我从没见过你穿西装。a woman in a yellow dress 一个穿黄色连衣裙的女人
6 showing the condition or state of sb/sth （表示状况或状态）: My father is in poor health. 我父亲身体不好。This room is in a mess ! 这个房间乱七八糟的！Richard's in love. 理查德德在恋爱了。He's in his mid-thirties. 他大约三十五六岁。
7 showing sb's job or the activity sb is involved in （表示所从事的工作或活动）: He's got a good job in advertising. 他有一份理想的广告界工作。All her family are in politics (= they are politicians). 她全家都从政。He's in the army. 他在当兵。
8 contained in; forming the whole or part of sth 包括在…内；构成整体或部份: There are 31 days in January. 一月份有31天。What's in this casserole? 这砂锅里有什么？
9 used for saying how things are arranged （用于事物的编排）: We sat in a circle. 我们围成一个圈子坐着。She had her hair in plaits. 她把头发编成辫子。
10 used for saying how sth is written or expressed （表示书写或表达方式）: Please write in pen. 请用墨水笔写。They were talking in Italian/French/Polish. 他们在用意大利语╱法语╱波兰语交谈。to work in groups/teams 分组╱小组工作
11 used with feelings （用于表示感觉）: I watched in horror as the plane crashed to the ground. 我看见飞机坠落地面，吓得魂飞魄散。He was in such a rageI didn't dare to go near him. 他在大发雷霆，我根本不敢接近。
12 used for giving the rate of sth and for talking about numbers （用于比率或数字）: One family in tenowns a dishwasher. 每十个家庭就有一个拥有洗碗机。
13 received by sb official 正式收到: Entries should be in by 20 March. 报名期限为3月20日。All applications must be in by Friday. 所有申请书最晚必须在星期五交来。
14 (used about the sea) at the highest point, when the water is closest to the land （指潮水）涨，升高: The tide's coming in. 现在开始涨潮了。
be in for it/sth to be going to experience sth unpleasant 将要经历令人不快的事情:
He'll be in for a shock when he gets the bill. 他收到账单准会大吃一惊。You'll be in for it when Mum sees what you've done. 妈妈发现你做了的事，一定会罚你。 be/get in on sth to be included or involved in sth 参与:
I'd like to be in on the new project. 我想参与这项新计划。 have (got) it in for sb(
informal 非正式) to be unpleasant to sb because he/she has done sth to upset you 对某人怀有恶意:
The boss has had it in for me ever since I asked to be considered for the new post. 自从我要求老板考虑让我出任新职位，他就一直跟我过不去。