Into

/ˈɪn.tuː/

prepositionBeginner🔥Very CommonMovement/Location
3 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

Used to indicate movement or direction to the inside or the interior of something.

/ˈɪn.tuː/

prepositionneutralBeginner
Movement/Location

Expressing movement or direction towards a point inside something.

The cat jumped into the box.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're throwing a ball. If it goes 'into' a basket, it's inside! It's all about going from the outside to the inside.

👶 For kids: Going inside something, like going into a house or into a box.

More Examples

2

Pour the milk into the glass.

3

She walked into the room and sat down.

How It's Used

General

"He walked into the house."

General

"She fell into the river."

2

Used to indicate a change of state, condition, or form.

/ˈɪn.tuː/

prepositionneutralmedium
Change/Transformation

Expressing a change of state or condition.

The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.

💡 Simply: Like when you mix things together and they become something new, like when you turn flour and eggs 'into' a cake.

👶 For kids: When something changes, like when water turns into ice.

More Examples

2

He was forced into the situation.

3

The company merged into a larger corporation.

How It's Used

General

"The water turned into ice."

General

"He translated the book into English."

Tip:Think about something transforming 'in' another.
3

To focus on or deal with something.

/ˈɪn.tuː/

prepositionneutralmedium
Subject/Topic

Indicating a subject or topic.

The committee went into details.

💡 Simply: When you're trying to talk 'into' a subject it means you're going more in depth, like when you get 'into' what your friend's doing.

👶 For kids: To talk about or do something more, like getting into a game.

More Examples

2

Let's get into the topic of climate change.

3

She poured all her time and energy into her new business venture.

How It's Used

Conversation

"Let's get into this topic in more detail."

Business

"They went into partnership with a rival firm."

Tip:Focus on the subject 'in' detail.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

get into

To start to be involved in something.

"He's really gotten into playing the guitar."

go into

To be transformed into something

"The milk went into cheese"

From Middle English *int(o), from Old English *in-tō, a combination of in ('in, within') + tō ('to, towards').

Used in Old English and has evolved over time.

Memory tip

Think of it as a journey 'in' to a destination.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"in + to"

walk intogo intolook intoget intobreak into

Common misspellings

intoointoe

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written