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

Food became more than just fuel; it became a reminder of the extraordinary within the ordinary.

From Salon

On further investigation, his team discovered that many of those papers were riddled with fishy data and questionable images, such as duplicated lanes within Western blots.

From Science Magazine

"He abused young boys in school, home and other public spaces. We now know that Dunleavy’s abuse has even involved multiple children within the same family, causing untold, lasting psychological damage," she added.

From BBC

But Lampard is fiercely ambitious and his standing within the game may well attract players who will have been beyond the club's compass before.

From BBC

Environmental organizations say the state is within its rights to enact regulations designed to protect public health.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• in
• inside