inside

adjective, adverb, preposition

UK /ˈɪnˌsaɪd/

Inside can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): What’s inside the envelope? Inside of is sometimes used instead of inside, especially in American English: I had a strange feeling inside of me.

as an adverb (without a following noun): I opened the box and looked inside.

as an adjective (always before a noun): the inside pages of a newspaper

1
within the inner part or area of something
1. 1a
  used for saying that someone or something is in a room or building, especially when you are outside
  There were lights on inside and I could hear voices.
  Richard was now safe inside his castle.
  houses without running water or an inside toilet
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
2. 1b
  enclosed in a container or space
  I always keep important papers locked inside my desk.
  I opened up my suitcase to show them what was inside.
  Synonyms and related words
  Surrounded and surrounding
  inside
  surrounding
  enclosed
3. 1c
  on the inner side of something
  She was standing just inside the door.
  Cassidy had one hand inside his jacket, as if reaching for something.
  inside pocket/lining (=on the inner side of a coat, case etc):
  Adam produced a small notebook from his inside pocket.
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
4. 1d
  within an area or country
  Draw a triangle inside the circle.
  An F-117A Stealth aircraft crashed inside Serbia.
  Kasapis scored the final goal with a low shot from inside the penalty area.
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
5. 1e
  in the inner part of something
  The photographs were on the inside pages of several Sunday newspapers.
  The melon was still green inside.
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
2
moving or looking into something
1. 2a
  into a building
  Come inside, out of the rain.
  As I walked past the door, I glanced inside.
  You’re not allowed to go inside the museum without paying.
2. 2b
  into an enclosed container or empty space
  She reached inside her handbag and pulled out an envelope.
  Loretta opened the fridge and peered inside.
  Synonyms and related words
  Surrounded and surrounding
  inside
  surrounding
  enclosed
3
within an organization
1. 3a
  within an organization or group
  There is a battle being fought inside the Conservative Party.
  from inside:
  The rumours are coming from inside the company.
2. 3b
  only before nounonly known by people who belong to a particular organization or group
  the inside story:
  the inside story of how a trade union destroyed itself
  inside knowledge:
  They seemed to have inside knowledge of MI5 operations.
  inside information:
  The thieves clearly had inside information that allowed them to know when the building would be unguarded.
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious
4
in someone’s mind, but not always shown or expressed
He was silent, but Elizabeth could sense the anger burning inside him.
I knew how stubborn he could be once he’d got an idea inside his head.
5
in your stomach
1. 5a
  already drunk or eaten
  With half a bottle of brandy inside me, I was beginning to feel unsteady.
  inside of:
  You’ll feel better once you get some dinner inside of you.
2. 5b
  used for talking about a feeling that you have in your stomach
  I suddenly felt sick inside.
  Synonyms and related words
  Physical sensations associated with emotions
  churn
  convulse
  flutter
6
done in less than a particular amount of time
All the remaining business could be completed inside half an hour.
He swam the 200 metres just inside the European record.
inside of:
They can usually give you an answer inside of an hour.
Synonyms and related words
General words referring to time
then
all
last
7
informalspending time in a prison
The poor guy did three years inside for a crime he never committed.
Synonyms and related words
Spending time in prison
behind bars
captive
captivity

inside

adjective, adverb, preposition

US /ɪnˈsaɪd/

Inside can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): What’s inside the envelope? Inside of is sometimes used instead of inside, especially in American English: The beetles live inside of the tree.

as an adverb (without a following noun): I opened the box and looked inside.

as an adjective (always before a noun): the inside pages of a newspaper

1
within the inner part or area of something
1. 1a
  enclosed in a container or space
  I always keep important papers locked inside my desk.
  I opened up my suitcase to show them what was inside.
  inside of:
  What’s inside of the box?
  Synonyms and related words
  Surrounded and surrounding
  inside
  surrounding
  enclosed
2. 1b
  used for saying that someone or something is in a room or building, especially when you are outside
  Richard was now safe inside his castle.
  There were lights on inside and I could hear voices.
  houses without running water or an inside toilet
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
3. 1c
  within an area or country
  Draw a triangle inside the circle.
  An F-117A Stealth aircraft crashed inside Serbia.
  Kasapis scored the final goal with a low shot from inside the penalty area.
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
4. 1d
  on the inner side of something
  She was standing just inside the door.
  Cassidy had one hand inside his jacket, as if reaching for something.
  inside pocket/lining (=on the inner side of a coat, case, etc.):
  Adam produced a small notebook from his inside pocket.
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
5. 1e
  in the inner part of something
  The photographs were on the inside pages of several Sunday newspapers.
  The melon was still green inside.
  Synonyms and related words
  Inside a place, object or building
  inside
  indoors
  interior
2
moving or looking into something
1. 2a
  into a building
  Come inside, out of the rain.
  As I walked past the door, I glanced inside.
  You’re not allowed to go inside the museum without paying.
2. 2b
  into an enclosed container or empty space
  She reached inside her handbag and pulled out an envelope.
  Loretta opened the fridge and peered inside.
  inside of:
  What did he put inside of the trunk?
  Synonyms and related words
  Surrounded and surrounding
  inside
  surrounding
  enclosed
3
within an organization
1. 3a
  within an organization or group
  There is a battle being fought inside the Reform Party.
  from inside:
  The rumors are coming from inside the company.
2. 3b
  only before nounonly known by people who belong to a particular organization or group
  the inside story:
  the inside story of how a trade union destroyed itself
  inside knowledge:
  They seemed to have inside knowledge of CIA operations.
  inside information:
  The thieves clearly had inside information that allowed them to know when the building would be unguarded.
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious
4
in someone’s mind, but not always shown or expressed
He was silent, but Elizabeth could sense the anger burning inside him.
I knew how stubborn he could be once he’d gotten an idea inside his head.
5
in your stomach
1. 5a
  already drunk or eaten
  With half a bottle of brandy inside me, I was beginning to feel unsteady.
  inside of:
  You’ll feel better once you get some dinner inside of you.
2. 5b
  used for talking about a feeling that you have in your stomach
  I suddenly felt sick inside.
  Synonyms and related words
  Physical sensations associated with emotions
  churn
  convulse
  flutter
6
done in less than a particular amount of time
All the remaining business could be completed inside half an hour.
He swam the 200 meters just inside the European record.
inside of:
They can usually give you an answer inside of an hour.
Synonyms and related words
General words referring to time
then
all
last
7
informalspending time in a prison
The poor guy did three years inside for a crime he never committed.
Synonyms and related words
Spending time in prison
behind bars
captive
captivity

phrases

know someone/something inside and out

inside

noun countable usually singular

UK /ˈɪnˌsaɪd/

Word Forms

singular	inside
plural	insides

1
the inner part of something
the inside of something:
I had never seen the inside of a prison before.
Synonyms and related words
The central parts of objects or spaces
the middle
centre
core
2
the part of something that faces inwards
the inside of something:
There were scratches all down the inside of my leg.
We need to clean the inside of the windows as well as the outside.
Synonyms and related words
The central parts of objects or spaces
the middle
centre
core

phrases

someone’s inside(s)

on the inside

inside

noun countable usually singular

US /ɪnˈsaɪd/

Word Forms

singular	inside
plural	insides

1
the inner part of something
the inside of something:
I had never seen the inside of a prison before.
Synonyms and related words
The central parts of objects or spaces
the middle
center
core
2
the part of something that faces inward
the inside of something:
There were scratches all down the inside of my leg.
We need to clean the inside of the windows as well as the outside.
Synonyms and related words
The central parts of objects or spaces
the middle
center
core

phrases

someone’s inside(s)

on the inside

inside ​‌‌‌

inside ​‌‌‌

inside

inside

inside

inside