within

[ with-in, with- ]

adverb

1. in or into the interior or inner part; inside.
2. in or into a house, building, etc.; indoors:

   The fire was burning on the hearth within.

3. on, or as regards, the inside; internally.
4. inside an enclosed place, area, room, etc.:

   He was startled by a cry from within.

5. in the mind, heart, or soul; inwardly.

preposition

1. in or into the interior of or the parts or space enclosed by:

   within city walls.

2. inside of; in.
3. in the compass or limits of; not beyond:

   within view;

   to live within one's income.

4. at or to some point not beyond, as in length or distance; not farther than:

   within a radius of a mile.

5. at or to some amount or degree not exceeding:

   within two degrees of freezing.

6. in the course or period of, as in time:

   within one's memory;

   within three minutes.

7. inside of the limits fixed or required by; not transgressing:

   within the law.

8. in the field, sphere, or scope of:

   within the family;

   within one's power.

noun

1. the inside of a place, space, or building.

within

/ wɪˈðɪn /

preposition

1. in; inside; enclosed or encased by
2. before (a period of time) has elapsed

   within a week

3. not beyond the limits of; not differing by more than (a specified amount) from

   within seconds of the world record

   live within your means

adverb

1. formal.
   inside; internally

Word History and Origins

Origin of within¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English withinne (preposition and adverb), Old English withinnan (adverb), equivalent to with with- + innan “from within,” equivalent to in in + -an, suffix of motion

Idioms and Phrases

• in (within) reason
• spitting distance, within
• wheels within wheels

Example Sentences

This all doesn’t, though, preclude the possibility that these secretaries will have effective deputies, or that Trump will have advisers or “czars” within the White House, like far-right anti-immigrant figures Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, who can conceive and carry out extreme plans.

From Slate

But some within the school community said they were worried about confidentiality and general awareness of the review process, with parents not given a direct line of communication with the North Wales Safeguarding Board.

From BBC

“Within six months, I would expect that executive order to be back in place,” Moynihan said.

From Slate

The bill, which was published this week, would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their life.

From BBC

Little-Pengelly said the executive had to “work within the budget” it had.

From BBC

Related Words

• in
• inside