In vs. Into: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 2, 2023
"In" denotes a static position or state within a boundary, while "Into" implies movement from outside to inside something.
Key Differences
"In" and "Into" are both prepositions in English, but they serve distinct purposes. "In" often conveys a sense of being located inside or within boundaries. For instance, when someone says, "I am in the room," it implies a stationary position inside that space.
"Into," on the other hand, signifies movement or transformation. It indicates a transition from one state or place to another. For example, "I walked into the room" suggests the action of entering the room from the outside.
Using "In" provides a sense of where something or someone is at a specific point in time, reflecting a static condition. If one mentions, "The keys are in the drawer," it simply denotes the current location of the keys.
In contrast, "Into" provides a sense of direction or transition. When one says, "She poured the water into the glass," it captures the action of the water moving from its original container to the glass.
While both "In" and "Into" can denote position and movement respectively, the context in which they are used is crucial. Being mindful of whether the situation is static or involves a change will help determine the appropriate choice between "In" and "Into."
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Comparison Chart
Type of Action
Static (no movement).
Dynamic (involves movement).
Function
Denotes position.
Denotes transition or direction.
Example
"He is in the house."
"He walked into the house."
Usage
Indicates a state or location.
Indicates movement or transformation.
Context
Present situation or condition.
Change from one state/place to another.
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In and Into Definitions
In
Located inside or within boundaries.
The dog is in the yard.
Into
Involvement or participation.
She's really into jazz music.
In
Denoting inclusion as part of something.
She is in the team.
Into
Collision or impact.
The car crashed into a tree.
In
Referring to a period of time.
I'll be there in an hour.
Into
Expressing movement towards the inside.
She walked into the store.
In
Expressing a manner or method.
Written in pen.
Into
Division or separation.
Cut the pie into eight slices.
In
Within the limits, bounds, or area of
Was hit in the face.
Born in the spring.
A chair in the garden.
Into
To the inside or interior of
Went into the house.
In
From the outside to a point within; into
Threw the letter in the wastebasket.
Into
To the activity or occupation of
Recent college graduates who go into banking.
In
To or at a situation or condition of
Was split in two.
In debt.
A woman in love.
Into
To the condition, state, or form of
Dishes breaking into pieces.
Changed into a butterfly.
In
Having the activity, occupation, or function of
A life in politics.
The officer in command.
Into
So as to be in or be included in
Parties entering into an agreement.
Wrote a new character into the play.
In
During the act or process of
Tripped in racing for the bus.
Into
(Informal) Interested in or involved with
They are into vegetarianism.
In
With the arrangement or order of
Fabric that fell in luxuriant folds.
Arranged to purchase the car in equal payments.
Into
To a point within the limits of a period of time or extent of space
Well into the week.
In
After the style or form of
A poem in iambic pentameter.
Into
In the direction of; toward
Looked into the distance.
Pointed into the sky.
In
With the characteristic, attribute, or property of
A tall man in an overcoat.
Into
Against
Crashed into a tree.
In
By means of
Paid in cash.
Into
As a divisor of
The number 3 goes into 9 three times.
In
Made with or through the medium of
A statue in bronze.
A note written in German.
Into
To or towards the inside of.
Mary danced into the house.
Pour the wine into the decanter.
The nomads shave intricate designs into their camels' fur.
In
With the aim or purpose of
Followed in pursuit.
Into
To or towards the region of.
We left the house and walked into the street.
The eagle flew off into the wide blue sky.
In
With reference to
Six inches in depth.
Has faith in your judgment.
Into
Against, especially with force or violence.
The car crashed into the tree.
I wasn't careful, and walked into a wall.
In
Used to indicate the second and larger term of a ratio or proportion
Saved only one in ten.
Into
Indicates transition into another form or substance.
I carved the piece of driftwood into a sculpture of a whale.
Right before our eyes, Jake turned into a wolf!
In
To or toward the inside
Opened the door and stepped in.
Into
Indicates division or the creation of subgroups or sections.
A cow's stomach is divided into four chambers.
In
To or toward a destination or goal
The mob closed in.
Into
After the start of.
About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported a fire on board.
In
(Sports) So as to score, as by crossing home plate in baseball
Singled the runner in.
Into
(colloquial) Interested in or attracted to.
She's really into Shakespeare right now.
My date for tonight has black hair, and I'm into that.
In
Within a place, as of business or residence
The manager is in before anyone else.
Into
Expressing the operation of multiplication.
Five into three is fifteen.
In
So as to be available or under one's control
We can proceed when all the evidence is in.
Into
(mathematics) Expressing the operation of division, with the denominator given first. Usually with "goes".
Three into two won't go.
24 goes into 48 how many times?
In
So as to include or incorporate
Fold in the egg whites.
Into
Investigating the subject (of).
There have been calls for research into the pesticides that are blamed for the decline in bee populations.
In
So as to occupy a position of success or favor
Campaigned hard and was voted in.
Into
To the inside of; within. It is used in a variety of applications.
In
In a particular relationship
Got in bad with their supervisor.
Into
Expressing entrance, or a passing from the outside of a thing to its interior parts; - following verbs expressing motion; as, come into the house; go into the church; one stream falls or runs into another; water enters into the fine vessels of plants.
In
Located inside; inner.
Into
Expressing penetration beyond the outside or surface, or access to the inside, or contents; as, to look into a letter or book; to look into an apartment.
In
Incoming; inward
Took the in bus.
Into
Indicating insertion; as, to infuse more spirit or animation into a composition.
In
Holding office; having power
The in party.
Into
Denoting inclusion; as, put these ideas into other words.
In
Currently fashionable
The in thing to wear this season.
Into
Indicating the passing of a thing from one form, condition, or state to another; as, compound substances may be resolved into others which are more simple; ice is convertible into water, and water into vapor; men are more easily drawn than forced into compliance; we may reduce many distinct substances into one mass; men are led by evidence into belief of truth, and are often enticed into the commission of crimes; she burst into tears; children are sometimes frightened into fits; all persons are liable to be seduced into error and folly.
In
Concerned with or attuned to the latest fashions
The in crowd.
Into
Indicating a transformation or change.
He turned into a wolf.
In
Relating to, understandable to, or coming from an exclusive group
An in reference.
In
One that has position, influence, or power
The ins against the outs.
In
(Informal) Influence; power
Had an in with the authorities.
In
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or other limits.
In
Contained by.
The dog is in the kennel.
There were three pickles in a jar.
In
Within the bounds or limits of.
I like living in the city.
There are lots of trees in the park.
In
Surrounded by; among; amidst.
We are in the enemy camp.
Her plane is in the air.
Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!
In
Wearing (an item of clothing).
I glanced over at the pretty girl in the red dress.
In
Part of; a member of; out of; from among.
You are one in a million.
She's in an orchestra.
In
During (a period of time).
My birthday is in the first week of December.
Easter falls in the fourth lunar month.
The country reached a high level of prosperity in his first term.
In
Within (a certain elapsed time); by the end of.
Will you be able to finish this in a week?
The massacre resulted in over 1000 deaths in three hours.
In
At the end of (a period of time).
They said they would call us in a week.
In
Characterized by.
Many English nouns in -is form their plurals in -es.
In
Into.
Less water gets in your boots this way.
She stood there looking in the window longingly.
In
Used to indicate limit, qualification, condition, or circumstance.
In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment.
In
Indicating an order or arrangement.
My fat rolls around in folds.
In
Denoting a state of the subject.
He stalked away in anger.
John is in a coma.
In
Indicates, connotatively, a place-like form of someone's (or something's) personality, as his, her or its psychic and physical characteristics.
You've got a friend in me.
He's met his match in her.
In
Pertaining to; with regard to.
There has been no change in his condition.
What grade did he get in English?
In
Used to indicate means, medium, format, genre, or instrumentality.
In
(of something offered or given in an exchange) In the form of, in the denomination of.
Please pay me in cash — preferably in tens and twenties.
The deposit can be in any legal tender, even in gold.
Her generosity was rewarded in the success of its recipients.
In
Used to indicate a language, script, tone, etc. of a text, speech, etc.
Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" in C minor is among his most popular.
His speech was in French, but was simultaneously translated into eight languages.
When you write in cursive, it's illegible.
Military letters should be formal in tone, but not stilted.
In
To enclose.
In
To take in; to harvest.
In
At or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.
Suddenly a strange man walked in.
Would you like that to take away or eat in?
He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in.
In
Towards the speaker or other reference point.
They flew in from London last night.
For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out.
In
So as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.
Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in.
In
After the beginning of something.
The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in.
In
(in combination, after a verb) Denotes a gathering of people assembled for the stated activity, sometimes, though not always, suggesting a protest.
Sing-in, pray-in, hug-in; see also be-in, love-in, sit-in, teach-in.
In
A position of power or influence, or a way to get it.
His parents got him an in with the company.
In
One who, or that which, is in; especially, one who is in office.
In
(sport) The state of a batter/batsman who is currently batting; see innings.
In
A re-entrant angle; a nook or corner.
In
Abbreviation of inch; inches
In
(not comparable) Located indoors, especially at home or at one's office or place of work.
Is Mr. Smith in?
In
(not comparable) Located inside something.
Little by little I pushed the snake into the basket, until finally all of it was in.
In
Falling or remaining within the bounds of the playing area.
If the tennis ball bounces on the line then it's in.
In
Inserted or fitted into something.
I've discovered why the TV wasn't working – the plug wasn't in!
In
Having been collected or received.
The replies to the questionnaires are now all in.
In
In fashion; popular.
Skirts are in this year.
In
Incoming.
The in train
In
Furled or stowed.
In
Of the tide, at or near its highest level.
You can't get round the headland when the tide's in.
In
(legal) With privilege or possession; used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin
In by descent;
In by purchase;
In of the seisin of her husband
In
(cricket) Currently batting.
In
Having familiarity or involvement with somebody.
He is very in with the Joneses.
In
(informal) Having a favourable position, such as a position of influence or expected gain, in relation to another person.
I think that bird fancies you. You're in there, mate!
In
(of fire or fuel) Burning; ablaze.
In
The specific signification of in is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among.
In
With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he traveled in Italy; castles in the air.
The babe lying in a manger.
Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west.
Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude.
Matter for censure in every page.
In
With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light.
Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils.
In
With reference to a whole which includes or comprises the part spoken of; as, the first in his family; the first regiment in the army.
Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry.
In
With reference to physical surrounding, personal states, etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is in darkness; to live in fear.
When shall we three meet again,In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
In
With reference to character, reach, scope, or influence considered as establishing a limitation; as, to be in one's favor.
Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh.
In
With reference to movement or tendency toward a certain limit or environment; - sometimes equivalent to into; as, to put seed in the ground; to fall in love; to end in death; to put our trust in God.
He would not plunge his brother in despair.
She had no jewels to deposit in their caskets.
In
With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life.
In
Not out; within; inside. In, the preposition, becomes an adverb by omission of its object, leaving it as the representative of an adverbial phrase, the context indicating what the omitted object is; as, he takes in the situation (i. e., he comprehends it in his mind); the Republicans were in (i. e., in office); in at one ear and out at the other (i. e., in or into the head); his side was in (i. e., in the turn at the bat); he came in (i. e., into the house).
Their vacation . . . falls in so pat with ours.
In
With privilege or possession; - used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin; as, in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband.
In
One who is in office; - the opposite of out.
In
A reëntrant angle; a nook or corner.
All the ins and outs of this neighborhood.
In
To inclose; to take in; to harvest.
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.
In
A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
In
A rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite
In
A state in midwestern United States
In
Holding office;
The in party
In
Directed or bound inward;
Took the in bus
The in basket
In
Currently fashionable;
The in thing to do
Large shoulder pads are in
In
To or toward the inside of;
Come in
Smash in the door
In
Inside an enclosed space
In
Indicating a state or condition.
He's in trouble.
FAQs
Can "In" indicate movement?
Typically, "In" suggests a static position, not movement.
Can "In" refer to time?
Yes, e.g., "I'll do it in ten minutes."
Can "Into" denote enthusiasm?
Yes, e.g., "He's really into soccer."
Is "In" only a preposition?
While often a preposition, "In" can also be an adverb.
How do I choose between "In" and "Into"?
Consider if the context is static (in) or involves movement/change (into).
Can "Into" signify a collision?
Yes, e.g., "The car bumped into the wall."
Does "Into" always denote entering a space?
No, "Into" can also indicate transformation or direction, not just entering.
Is "In" used for enclosed spaces only?
Not always; it can indicate a state, method, or time, among other uses.
Can "In" be about methods?
Yes, e.g., "Written in pencil."
Does "Into" imply a change in state?
Often, e.g., "She burst into tears."
Does "Into" always show depth?
Not always; it can denote direction, transformation, or impact.
Does "Into" suggest a deeper involvement?
Often, e.g., "She delved into the topic."
Are "In" and "Into" always interchangeable?
No, their usage depends on the context.
Does "In" denote a part of a group?
It can, e.g., "She's in the choir."
Is "In" used for physical locations only?
No, it can also indicate states or conditions.
Can "In" refer to methods?
Yes, e.g., "He said it in a whisper."
Can "In" show membership?
Yes, e.g., "He's in the club."
Can "Into" be about areas of interest?
Yes, e.g., "He's into photography."
Is "Into" related to direction?
Yes, it often indicates a direction or path of movement.
Can "Into" indicate division?
Yes, e.g., "Divide the cake into slices."
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
