input
Americannoun
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something that is put in.
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the act or process of putting in.
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the power or energy supplied to a machine.
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the current or voltage applied to an electric or electronic circuit or device.
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Computers.
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data to be entered into a computer for processing.
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the process of introducing data into the internal storage of a computer.
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contribution of information, ideas, opinions, or the like.
Before making a decision we need your input.
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the available data for solving a technical problem.
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Scot. a monetary contribution, as to charity.
adjective
verb (used with object)
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Computers. to enter (data) into a computer for processing.
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to contribute (ideas, information, or suggestions) to a project, discussion, etc.
noun
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the act of putting in
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that which is put in
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(often plural) a resource required for industrial production, such as capital goods, labour services, raw materials, etc
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electronics
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the signal or current fed into a component or circuit
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the terminals, or some other point, to which the signal is applied
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computing the data fed into a computer from a peripheral device
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(modifier) of or relating to electronic, computer, or other input
verb
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have inputperfect
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has inputtedperfect 3rd person singular
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have inputtedperfect
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has inputperfect 3rd person singular
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am inputtingprogressive 1st person singular
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are inputtingprogressive
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has been inputtingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been inputtingperfect progressive
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inputssingular 3rd person
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is inputtingprogressive 3rd person singular
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inputtingparticiple
Past
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had inputperfect
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had inputtedperfect
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were inputtingprogressive plural
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had been inputtingperfect progressive
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was inputtingprogressive singular
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inputtedsimple
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inputtedparticiple
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inputsimple
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inputparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of input
Explanation
Input is that which is, well, put in—whether literally, as in "the input from the guitar to the speaker," or more conceptually, as in "the group leader wanted everybody's input." The verb input, in the computer sense, didn't exist much before the late 1940's when it became common among computer professionals, who input data into their machines. Why they weren't satisfied just to "put in" the data, we may never know. Before that, the noun input was an economic term meaning anything that went into production: the grain was just one input among several required for the production of cereal. But often, these days, input means a contribution of some kind, usually a thought. You'll thank me for my input later.
Vocabulary lists containing input
Economics
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Unit 1: Ecological Systems
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Geometry - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The San Diego district attorney’s office said it took the totality of evidence into consideration when reaching a plea deal with Rylaarsdam, as well as input from the victim’s family.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Hall describes stumbling on the ChatGPT logs of her boyfriend of 5 months and finding that he had asked the LLM to decide, based on the concerns he input, whether he should continue their relationship.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026
“Forecast cuts have been widespread as higher inflation squeezes real wages, dampens consumption and raises companies’ input costs,” Fitch economists said in a report.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
A Morgan Stanley analyst team, led by Shawn Kim, on Tuesday wrote that surging memory prices and supply scarcity are becoming a cross-sector risk as AI reprices a critical input across the digital economy.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
Grace just held out her hand for his phone, then input her number.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
