into — English Dictionary

Preposition

1. To or towards the inside of.

   Examples

   Mary danced into the house.

   Pour the wine into the decanter.

   More examples (5)

   The nomads shave intricate designs into their camels' fur.

   She eased her enormous frame into the chair.

   Then for St. Ambroſe, his expreſſion is but in aquis ſe merſit, that is, he dipped himſelf in the waters, not in aquas ſe merſit, he dipped himſelf into the waters. A great deal of difference betwixt in and into. The firſt would import that being in the waters he dipped himſelf, which might be ſaid, though he dipped but part of himſelf in them. The ſecond would import his dipping of himſelf into the waters, which would lye fairlieſt to be underſtood of a total immerſion.

   He used to drop into my chambers once in a while to smoke, and was first-rate company. When I gave a dinner there was generally a cover laid for him. I liked the man for his own sake, and even had he promised to turn out a celebrity it would have had no weight with me.

   This time Cudicini was left helpless when Natcho stepped up to expertly curl the ball into the top corner.

2. To or towards the region of.

   Examples

   We left the house and walked into the street.

   The eagle flew off into the wide blue sky.

3. To the condition or state.

   Examples

   They lulled us into thinking we still had time.

4. Against, especially with force or violence.

   Examples

   The car crashed into the tree.

   I wasn't careful, and walked into a wall.

   More examples (2)

   My boss surprised me into admitting I'd been leaving work early lately.

   Hundreds of readers were tricked into sending them money.

5. Indicates transition into another form or substance.

   Examples

   I carved the piece of driftwood into a sculpture of a whale.

   Right before our eyes, Jake turned into a wolf!

   More examples (1)

   His English is still in its beginning stages, like my Creole, but he was able to translate some Creole songs that he's written into English—not the best English, but English nonetheless.

6. Indicates division or the creation of subgroups or sections.

   Examples

   A cow's stomach is divided into four chambers.

   More examples (1)

   Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.

7. After the start of.

   Examples

   About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported a fire on board.

   More examples (1)

   "[…] They talk of you as if you were Croesus—and I expect the beggars sponge on you unconscionably." And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes.

8. Interested in or attracted to.

   Usage

   • Colloquial

   Examples

   She's really heavily into Shakespeare right now.

   My date for tonight has black hair, and I'm into that.

   More examples (2)

   I was into you, but I'm over it now / And I was trying to be nice / But nothing's getting through, so let me spell it out[…]

   Seems fitting for you, though; I figured you'd be into this.

9. Expressing the operation of division, with the denominator given first. Usually with “goes”.

   Examples

   How many times does 24 go into 48?

   Three goes into six two times.

10. Expressing the operation of multiplication.

    Usage

    • India
    • UK usage
    • Archaic

    Examples

    Five into three is fifteen.

11. Investigating the subject (of).

    Examples

    There have been calls for research into the pesticides that are blamed for the decline in bee populations.

12. Attacking or fighting a person.

    Usage

    • Colloquial

    Examples

    I'll be d—d if I don't sarve out that ould cantin', cheatin', blackguard, Meeks! As sure as eggs is eggs, I'll be into him like a thousand o' bricks!