inside
♦♦ in|side /'ɪns'aɪd/ (insides)
The preposition is usually pronounced /ɪns'aɪd/.
The form inside of can also be used as a preposition. This form is more usual in American English.
1 [PREP]
Something or someone that is inside a place, container, or object is in it or is surrounded by it.
Inside the passport was a folded slip of paper...
There is a telephone inside the entrance hall.
≠ outside
[ADV] ADV after v, be ADV, from ADV, n ADV, ADV with cl
Inside is also an adverb.
The couple chatted briefly on the doorstep before going inside...
Inside, clouds of cigarette smoke swirled.
≠ outside
[ADJ] ADJ n
Inside is also an adjective.
...four-berth inside cabins with en suite bathroom and shower.
2 [N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The inside of something is the part or area that its sides surround or contain.
The doors were locked from the inside...
I painted the inside of the house...
≠ outside
[ADJ] ADJ n
Inside is also an adjective.
The popular papers all have photo features on their inside pages.
[ADV] adj ADV
Inside is also an adverb.
The potato cakes should be crisp outside and meltingly soft inside.
3 [ADV] be ADV, ADV after v
You can say that someone is inside when they are in prison. (INFORMAL)
He's been inside three times.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
On a wide road, the inside lane is the one which is closest to the edge of the road. Compare outside. (BRIT)
I was driving up at seventy miles an hour on the inside lane on the motorway.
= nearside
≠ outside
[N-SING] the N, oft on the N
Inside is also a noun. (in AM, use slow lane)
I overtook Charlie on the inside.
≠ outside
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
Inside information is obtained from someone who is involved in a situation and therefore knows a lot about it.
Sloane used inside diplomatic information to make himself rich...
6 [PREP]
If you are inside an organization, you belong to it.
75 percent of chief executives come from inside the company...
[ADJ] ADJ n
Inside is also an adjective.
...a recent book about the inside world of pro football.
[N-SING] the N
Inside is also a noun.
McAvoy was convinced he could control things from the inside but he lost control.
7 [N-PLURAL] usu poss N
Your insides are your internal organs, especially your stomach. (INFORMAL)
8 [ADV] ADV after v, n ADV
If you say that someone has a feeling inside, you mean that they have it but have not expressed it.
There is nothing left inside-no words, no anger, no tears...
[PREP] usu n PREP pron
Inside is also a preposition.
He felt a great weight of sorrow inside him...
[N-SING] the N
Inside is also a noun.
What is needed is a change from the inside, a real change in outlook and attitude.
9 [PREP] PREP amount
If you do something inside a particular time, you do it before the end of that time.
They should have everything working inside an hour...
= within
10 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If something such as a piece of clothing is inside out, the part that is normally inside now faces outwards.
Her umbrella blew inside out.
11 [PHRASE] v n PHR
If you say that you know something or someone inside out, you are emphasizing that you know them extremely well.
He knew the game inside out...
The preposition is usually pronounced /ɪns'aɪd/.
The form inside of can also be used as a preposition. This form is more usual in American English.
1 [PREP]
Something or someone that is inside a place, container, or object is in it or is surrounded by it.
Inside the passport was a folded slip of paper...
There is a telephone inside the entrance hall.
≠ outside
[ADV] ADV after v, be ADV, from ADV, n ADV, ADV with cl
Inside is also an adverb.
The couple chatted briefly on the doorstep before going inside...
Inside, clouds of cigarette smoke swirled.
≠ outside
[ADJ] ADJ n
Inside is also an adjective.
...four-berth inside cabins with en suite bathroom and shower.
2 [N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The inside of something is the part or area that its sides surround or contain.
The doors were locked from the inside...
I painted the inside of the house...
≠ outside
[ADJ] ADJ n
Inside is also an adjective.
The popular papers all have photo features on their inside pages.
[ADV] adj ADV
Inside is also an adverb.
The potato cakes should be crisp outside and meltingly soft inside.
3 [ADV] be ADV, ADV after v
You can say that someone is inside when they are in prison. (INFORMAL)
He's been inside three times.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
On a wide road, the inside lane is the one which is closest to the edge of the road. Compare outside. (BRIT)
I was driving up at seventy miles an hour on the inside lane on the motorway.
= nearside
≠ outside
[N-SING] the N, oft on the N
Inside is also a noun. (in AM, use slow lane)
I overtook Charlie on the inside.
≠ outside
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
Inside information is obtained from someone who is involved in a situation and therefore knows a lot about it.
Sloane used inside diplomatic information to make himself rich...
6 [PREP]
If you are inside an organization, you belong to it.
75 percent of chief executives come from inside the company...
[ADJ] ADJ n
Inside is also an adjective.
...a recent book about the inside world of pro football.
[N-SING] the N
Inside is also a noun.
McAvoy was convinced he could control things from the inside but he lost control.
7 [N-PLURAL] usu poss N
Your insides are your internal organs, especially your stomach. (INFORMAL)
8 [ADV] ADV after v, n ADV
If you say that someone has a feeling inside, you mean that they have it but have not expressed it.
There is nothing left inside-no words, no anger, no tears...
[PREP] usu n PREP pron
Inside is also a preposition.
He felt a great weight of sorrow inside him...
[N-SING] the N
Inside is also a noun.
What is needed is a change from the inside, a real change in outlook and attitude.
9 [PREP] PREP amount
If you do something inside a particular time, you do it before the end of that time.
They should have everything working inside an hour...
= within
10 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If something such as a piece of clothing is inside out, the part that is normally inside now faces outwards.
Her umbrella blew inside out.
11 [PHRASE] v n PHR
If you say that you know something or someone inside out, you are emphasizing that you know them extremely well.
He knew the game inside out...