inner

[ in-er ]

adjective

1. situated within or farther within; interior:

   an inner door.

2. more intimate, private, or secret:

   the inner workings of the organization.

3. of or relating to the mind or spirit; mental; spiritual:

   the inner life.

4. not obvious; hidden or obscure:

   an inner meaning.

5. noting or relating to an aspect of a person's mind or personality that has not been fully discovered, revealed, or expressed:

   a place where anyone can find their inner artist regardless of skill level.

inner

/ ˈɪnə /

adjective

1. being or located further inside

   an inner room

2. happening or occurring inside

   inner movement

3. relating to the soul, mind, spirit, etc

   inner feelings

4. more profound or obscure; less apparent

   the inner meaning

5. exclusive or private

   inner regions of the party

6. chem (of a compound) having a cyclic structure formed or apparently formed by reaction of one functional group in a molecule with another group in the same molecule

   an inner ester

noun

1. Also calledred archery
   1. the red innermost ring on a target
   2. a shot which hits this ring

Derived Forms

• ˈinnerly, adverb
• ˈinnerness, noun

Other Words From

• inner·ly adverb adjective
• inner·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inner¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English innera, comparative based on the adv. inne within, inside; inmost none, -er ⁴none

Example Sentences

With a Trump presidency on the horizon, the president-elect is choosing his inner circle.

From Los Angeles Times

The front organization functions both ways: as the facade of the totalitarian movement to the nontotalitarian world, and as the facade of this world to the inner hierarchy of the movement.

From Salon

Typically, an incoming president will also bring top-level staff members to learn the inner workings of the White House as well as shorter-term issues that may arise during a new president’s first week.

From Los Angeles Times

It also serves as an MRI into the inner life of Didion, who has been somewhat of a frustratingly inscrutable presence.

From Los Angeles Times

Starring Ralph Fiennes and set within the private inner sanctum of the Vatican, the movie treats the papal balloting like a thriller.

From Los Angeles Times