into definition - Dictionary

MSN homeMailMy MSN

encartagreeting cards

encarta®

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Translations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

into

in·to [ stressed íntoo, unstressed íntə ] CORE MEANING: a preposition indicating that somebody or something moves inside something, either physically or figuratively

I released the balloon into the air.

in case you get into difficulties

I decided to go into the army.

When did you go into partnership with them?

preposition

Definition:

1. indicates movement to inside: indicates that something or somebody moves or is moved from outside to inside or toward the inner part of something

came into the house

2. indicates movement to midst of something: indicates that something or somebody moves to the middle of something and becomes part of it or is surrounded by it

leaped into the water

3. indicates entry: indicates entering a state, career, or period of time

burst into action

went into marketing

4. indicates accidental contact: indicates coming up against something accidentally

bumped into them

5. indicates change: indicates becoming a new entity, shape, or form as a result of a change or transformation

turned into a frog

6. indicates result: indicates a situation resulting from somebody's persuasion

talked me into going

7. indicates result of dividing: indicates the number or nature of the smaller parts that are left when something is divided

divided the cake into six

8. mathematics indicates division: placed before a number being divided by another number to indicate the process of division

9 into 63 equals 7.

9. enthusiastic about: indicates interest in or enthusiasm about something ( informal )

really into tennis

[ Old English in(n)tō<in¹ + to¹]

Word Usage


	in, into, or in to? In formal written English, the preposition for inward movement is into, not in: She came into [not in] the room. We welcomed him into [not in] the family. It is sometimes acceptable to use either in or into, but the latter is usually preferable in formal English: He put it into [or in] his pocket. Using in for into can be misleading, as in She jumped in the pool. (Did she jump into the pool, or was she already standing in the pool when she jumped?) Do not confuse into with in to - the preposition into is never written as two separate words; when the separate words in and to occur side by side, they should not be joined together: I went into [not in to] the house. I went in to [not into] get my jacket. See onto.