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0
inside a container, place, or area, or surrounded or closed off by something:
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Is Mark still in bed?
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I got stuck in a traffic jam for half an hour.
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They live in a charming old house.
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How much is that coat on display in the window (= in the space behind the window of the shop)?
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I've got a pain in my back.
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What's that in your hand?
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I've got something in (= on the surface of) my eye.
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They used to live in Paris, but now they're somewhere in Austria.
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He's always looking at himself in the mirror (= at the image of his face produced by the mirror).
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I never know what's going on in her head (= what she's thinking about).
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My daughter's in hospital (
US in the hospital) having her tonsils out.
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US Is Erika still in school (= does she still go to school)?
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1
into something:
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Come on, we're late - get in the car.
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Put the milk back in the fridge when you've finished with it.
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They threw him in the swimming pool.
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2
forming a part of something:
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He used to be the lead singer in a rock band.
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There are too many spelling mistakes in this essay.
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I've been waiting in this queue for ages.
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What do you look for in a relationship?
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I can see a future champion in Joely (= I think that Joely might become a champion).
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Talent like hers is rare in someone so young.
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3
during part or all of a period of time:
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We're going to Italy in April.
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Some trees lose their leaves in (the) autumn.
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I started working here in 2009.
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Life in the 19th century was very different from what it is now.
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Bye, see you in the morning (= tomorrow morning).
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She was a brilliant gymnast in her youth (= when she was young).
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How many civilians died in the Vietnam War?
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This is the first cigarette I've had in three years.
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I haven't had a decent night's sleep in years/ages (= for a long time).
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I have breakfast at 7.30, lunch at 1.00, and sometimes a snack in between.
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4
needing or using no more time than a particular amount of time:
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Can you finish the job in two weeks?
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She could get that essay done in a couple of hours if she really tried.
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They completed the journey in record time (= faster than ever done before).
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5
before or at the end of a particular period:
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Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.
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We'll all be dead in a hundred years so there's no point worrying about it.
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I'm just setting off, so I should be with you in half an hour.
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6
experiencing a situation or condition, or feeling an emotion:
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We watched in horror as they pulled the bodies from the wreckage.
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He's living in luxury in the south of France.
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She left in a bit of a hurry.
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You're in great danger.
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Could I have a word with you in private?
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Have you ever been in love?
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Your car's in very good condition, considering how old it is.
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7
expressed or written in a particular way:
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Cheques should be written in ink.
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She usually paints in watercolour.
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They spoke in Russian the whole time.
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He always talks in a whisper.
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8
used when referring to something that is done as a result of something else:
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I'd like to do something for you in return/exchange for everything you've done for me.
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The changes are in response to demand from our customers.
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He refused to say anything in reply to the journalists' questions.
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9
used to show how things or people are arranged or divided:
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We all sat down in a circle.
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The desks were arranged in rows of ten.
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Discounts are available to people travelling in large groups.
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Sometimes customers buy books in twos and threes, but rarely in larger quantities than that.
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Cut the potatoes in two.
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People are dying in their thousands from cold and starvation.
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10
used when referring approximately to someone's age or the weather temperature:
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Nowadays many women are in their late thirties when they have their first child.
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Temperatures will be in the mid-twenties (= about 25 degrees).
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11
involved or connected with a particular subject or activity:
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12
wearing:
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Do you recognize that man in the grey suit?
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Pat can't resist men in uniform.
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You look nice in green (= green clothes).
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13
used to compare one part of an amount of something with the total amount of it:
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Apparently one in ten people/one person in ten has problems with reading.
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UK The basic rate of income tax is 25 pence in (
US on) the pound.
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14
used to show which characteristic or part of a person or thing is being described:
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The new version is worse in every respect - I much preferred the original.
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Are the two bags equal in weight?
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She's deaf in her left ear.
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15
used to show when doing one thing is the cause of another thing happening:
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In refusing (= because she refused) to work abroad, she missed an excellent job opportunity.
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The government banned tobacco advertising and, in doing so (= because of this), contributed greatly to the nation's health.
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This research is important in that it confirms the link between aggression and alcohol.
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16
from outside, or towards the centre:
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Could you bring the clothes in for me?
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The roof of their house caved in during a hurricane.
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Cut the pastry into a square and turn in the corners.
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She's been in and out of hospitals ever since the accident.
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17
at home or at work:
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When did you get home? I never heard you come in.
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Mr Ellis isn't in this week.
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18
within an object, area, or substance:
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We've been shut in all day.
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UK Has the soup got any salt in?
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19
having arrived at the place where people can get on or off:
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What time is Roz's flight due in?
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20
given or sent to someone official in order to be read:
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When does your essay have to be in?
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Remember to get your application in by the end of the week.
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21
towards the coast, beach, or harbour:
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The tide comes in very quickly here and you can soon find yourself stranded.
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We stood watching the ship come in.
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22
used to refer to an activity that makes something complete:
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Just pencil in the answer unless you're sure it's correct.
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The text is finished, but the pictures will have to be pasted in later.
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UK Would you mind filling in a questionnaire about what you watch on television?
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23
If the ball is in during a game of tennis or a similar sport, it has not gone outside the edges of the area on which the game is played:
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I won that point, I'm telling you! The ball was definitely in!
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Who's in next for our team?
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It started to rain just as our team was going in to bat.
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24
fashionable or popular:
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High heels are in this season.
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The new jazz club seems to be the in place to go at the moment.
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25
written abbreviation for
inch
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26
used to add the meaning "not", "lacking", or "the opposite of" to adjectives and to words formed from adjectives:
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27
abbreviation for intranasal: through the nose:
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28
written abbreviation for the US state of Indiana: used in addresses
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29
used to form a noun which describes an activity in which many people take part:
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30
positioned inside or within the limits of something, or contained, surrounded, or enclosed by something:
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There’s a cup in the cabinet.
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Anne is still in bed.
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Don’t stand in the driveway.
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He’s always looking at himself in the mirror.
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Clarice lives in Orlando.
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He was in prison (= a prisoner).
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Erika is still in school (= still a student).
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He has a pain in his shoulder.
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Since the accident, she’s been in and out of the hospital several times.
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31
being a member or forming a part of something:
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Who’s the woman in that painting?
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Mr. Harper is in a meeting.
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I’ve been waiting in line for two hours.
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Do you take milk in your coffee?
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32
experiencing a situation, condition, or feeling:
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We watched in horror as the cars crashed.
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I’d like to talk to you in private.
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He left in a hurry.
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Have you ever been in love?
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He’s always in a bad mood on Monday mornings.
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Temperatures tomorrow will be in the 70s (= between 70 and 79 degrees).
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33
into or toward:
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Get in the car.
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She stepped in the batter’s box.
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He looked in my direction.
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34
involved or connected with something, esp. with a job or subject:
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I never knew you were in publishing.
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I’m taking a course in economics next semester.
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35
wearing, covering, or decorated with:
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Do you recognize that man in the gray suit?
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The living room is done in blue and green.
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36
said, made, or done using something:
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Fill out the application in ink.
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They spoke in Russian the whole time.
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37
during part or all of a period of time or an event:
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We’re going to Arizona in April.
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What was it like to be a student in 1968?
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See you in the morning.
-
How many people died in the war?
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She’s in her forties (= between 40 and 49 years old).
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Can you finish the job in two weeks?
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I should be there in half an hour.
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38
used to show how something is arranged or divided:
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We sat in a circle around the campfire.
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The potatoes will bake faster if you cut them in half.
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39
used to compare a part of an amount of something with the total amount of it; out of:
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The survey found that one person in ten has a reading problem.
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The chance of that happening is one in a million.
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40
used to show which characteristic of a person or thing is being described:
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She’s deaf in her left ear.
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Canned vegetables are not very rich in vitamins.
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I wasn’t using the word "guarantee" in its strict legal sense.
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41
used to show that doing one thing is the cause of another thing happening:
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I leaned out of the canoe and in doing so tipped it over.
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It might be made of plastic, in which case it will be light enough to carry.
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42
from outside, or toward the center:
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Could you bring the clothes in for me?
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The roof of their house caved in during a hurricane.
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43
at a place, esp. at home or a place of work:
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Why is it that whenever I call, you are never in?
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Danielle was out sick last week – do you know if she’ll be in today?
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44
used to show that a space or place exists where something can be put or added:
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45
into an elected position or office:
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She’s been voted in for a second term as treasurer.
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46
fashionable or popular:
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That new jazz club is the in place to go.
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High heels came in again this season.
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47
an advantage resulting from a good relationship with someone powerful:
-
Sal has an in with someone at the theater.
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48
abbreviation for inch
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49
used to add the meaning not, lacking, or the opposite of to adjectives and to words formed from adjectives:
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50
written abbreviation for inch
