Inside — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adverb adjective preposition /(ˌ)in-ˈsīd/ in·side

Meaning & Definition of Inside

Inside (noun)

  1. an interior or internal part or place, the part within
  2. inward nature, thoughts, or feeling
  3. viscera, entrails —usually used in plural

Inside (adverb)

  1. on the inner side
  2. in or into the interior
  3. to or on the inside

Inside (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or being on or near the inside
  2. relating or known to a select group
  3. behind-the-scenes

Inside (preposition)

  1. in or into or as if in or into the interior of
  2. on the inner side of
  3. within

Inside (preposition) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in within

    similar: within
    opposite: beyond, outside, outside of, without, except

Inside (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in in, within

    similar: in, within, indoors
    opposite: alfresco, out, outdoors, outside, without

Inside (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not known or meant to be known by the general populace

    "made a stock trade based on inside information"

    similar: behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hush-hush, hushed, intimate, nonpublic, private, privy, secret
    related: classified, restricted, top secret, silent, unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed, unmentioned, unsaid, untold, clandestine, closet, collusive, conspiratorial, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, occult, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded, personal, closeted, concealed, hidden, repressed, silenced, stifled, suppressed, backstage, offscreen, offstage
    opposite: common, open, public
    near: well-known, advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted, general, popular, prevailing, vulgar, current, prevalent, rife, widespread, communal, shared

  2. situated farther in

    "chose the inside lane to run around the track"

    similar: inner, interior, internal, inward
    related: inmost, innermost, central, mid, middle, midmost
    opposite: exterior, external, outer, outside, outward
    near: outermost, outmost, surface

Inside (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an interior or internal part

    "the inside of the clock features an amazingly complex mechanism"

    similar: innards, interior, within
    related: belly, bowels, guts, stuffing, recesses, center, core, heart
    opposite: exterior, outside
    near: border, boundary, brim, brink, edge, end, extremity, fringe, limit, lip, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, surface

  2. the internal organs of the body

    "medical students eager to see what people's insides look like"

    similar: entrails, gut, innards, inwards, viscera, vitals
    related: bowel(s), intestine(s), chitterlings, giblet(s), variety meat

  3. the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions

    "not one to share her fears and worries, she keeps it all on the inside"

    similar: belly, blood, bone(s), bosom, breast, core, gut, heart, heartstrings, inner space, quick, soul
    related: conscience, mind

  4. information not generally available to the public

    "a person with the inside on what really happened at the board meeting"

    similar: 411 (slang), book, dope, lowdown, poop (slang), scoop, skinny (slang), tip
    related: dirt, dish, gossip, rumor, story, hint, pointer, information, intelligence, news, tidings, word
    near: ancient history, open secret

Related Entry: Inside out (adverb)

Inside out is a different word from Inside. The synonyms below are for inside out, not for inside.

  1. with attention to all aspects or details

    "after 20 years of employment there, he has come to know the company inside out"

    similar: completely, comprehensively, detailedly, exhaustively, fully, minutely, roundly, sweepingly, systematically, thoroughly, through and through, totally, at length, from stem to stern, from the ground up, in detail
    related: meticulously, microscopically, all out, full blast, intensively, broadly, encyclopedically, extensively, generally, globally, widely, conclusively, consummately, definitely, perfectly
    near: aimlessly, desultorily, haphazardly, hit or miss, randomly, cursorily, imperfectly, inadequately, narrowly, shallowly, sketchily, summarily, superficially, indeterminately, nebulously, vaguely

Related Entry: Inside track (noun)

Inside track is a different word from Inside. The synonyms below are for inside track, not for inside.

  1. the more favorable condition or position in a competition

    "the applicant with actual experience in pharmaceutical sales will definitely have the inside track for the job"

    similar: advantage, better, bulge, catbird seat, drop, edge, high ground, jump, pull, stead, upper hand, vantage, whip hand, coign of vantage
    related: allowance, head start, lead, leg up, margin, odds, start, ascendancy, command, dominance, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, transcendency, precedence, preference, prerogative, privilege, seniority, break, foothold, opportunity, benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, manna, windfall
    opposite: disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike
    near: detriment, stranglehold, disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness, disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming, bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel, lurch, setback

Related Entry: Inside tracks (noun)

Inside tracks is a different word from Inside. The synonyms below are for inside tracks, not for inside.

  1. the more favorable condition or position in a competition

    "the applicant with actual experience in pharmaceutical sales will definitely have the inside track for the job"

    similar: advantages, betters, bulges, catbird seats, drops, edges, high grounds, jumps, pulls, steads, upper hands, vantages, whip hands, coigns of vantage
    related: allowances, head starts, leads, legs up, margins, odds, starts, ascendancies, commands, dominances, masteries, predominances, superiorities, supremacies, transcendences, transcendencies, precedences, preferences, prerogatives, privileges, seniorities, breaks, footholds, opportunities, benefits, blessings, boons, felicities, godsends, mannas, windfalls
    opposite: disadvantages, drawbacks, handicaps, liabilities, minuses, penalties, strikes
    near: detriments, strangleholds, disparities, imbalances, inequalities, disabilities, failings, impairments, shortcomings, bars, catches, checks, clogs, crimps, embarrassments, hindrances, hitches, hurdles, impediments, interferences, lets, manacles, obstacles, obstructions, rubs, shackles, stops, trammels, lurches, setbacks

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Inside

The most common words with a similar meaning to Inside:

Slang: 411, poop, skinny
within, in, indoors, behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hush-hush, hushed, intimate, nonpublic, private, privy, secret, inner, interior, internal, inward, innards, entrails, gut, inwards, viscera, vitals, belly, blood, bone(s), bosom, breast, core, heart, heartstrings, inner space, quick, soul, book, dope, lowdown, scoop, tip

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Inside

Words with the opposite meaning of Inside:

beyond, outside, outside of, without, except, alfresco, out, outdoors, common, open, public, exterior, external, outer, outward

Related Words for Inside

classified, restricted, top secret, silent, unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed, unmentioned, unsaid, untold, clandestine, closet, collusive, conspiratorial, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, occult, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded, personal, closeted, concealed

Near Antonyms of Inside

well-known, advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted, general, popular, prevailing, vulgar, current, prevalent, rife, widespread, communal, shared, outermost, outmost

Origin & Etymology of Inside

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Inside

Words & Phrases Containing Inside

inside address, inside baseball, inside of, inside out, inside track

Frequently Asked Questions about Inside

What does "Inside" mean?

"Inside" means an interior or internal part or place, the part within. As an a noun, an adverb, an adjective and a preposition, it is defined as: an interior or internal part or place, the part within. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Inside"?

Other words for "Inside" include within, in, indoors, behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hush-hush and hushed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Inside" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Inside"?

There are 110 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Inside". Common alternatives include within, in, indoors, behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hush-hush, hushed, intimate and nonpublic.

What is a slang word for "Inside"?

Slang words for "Inside" include 411, poop and skinny.

What is the opposite of "Inside"?

Antonyms of "Inside" include beyond, outside, outside of, without, except, alfresco, out and outdoors. Near antonyms include well-known, advertised, aired and announced.

How do you use "Inside" in a sentence?

Examples of "Inside" in a sentence: "made a stock trade based on inside information"; "chose the inside lane to run around the track"; "the inside of the clock features an amazingly complex mechanism".

Is "Inside" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Inside" can be used as a noun, an adverb, an adjective and a preposition, depending on the context.

Is "Inside" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Inside" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.