In vs. At: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 14, 2024
"In" often indicates being inside or within boundaries, while "At" suggests a specific point or location.
Key Differences
"In" generally refers to being inside a physical or conceptual space, denoting inclusion within a larger context. Conversely, "At" is used to specify a precise location or point, often indicating presence at a specific spot. While "In" suggests a more general setting, "At" is used for exact locations.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
"In" can imply a state or condition, such as being in love, where it represents a state of being. "At," on the other hand, is often used in the context of time, such as at 5 PM, indicating a specific moment. Thus, "In" can be more abstract, whereas "At" is concrete and specific.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
"In" is also used to indicate a period of time, suggesting a duration, as in "in the morning." In contrast, "At" is used for more precise, often shorter time points, like "at sunrise." Here, "In" suggests a timeframe, while "At" points to a specific instant within that frame.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
For activities, "In" can indicate participation within a group or activity, like "in a meeting." "At," however, can refer to attendance at an event or location, as in "at the concert." "In" conveys a sense of involvement, whereas "At" indicates presence.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
"In" is often used with larger geographical areas, like "in America," implying a broader, more general area. "At" is more specific, used with smaller, more defined places, such as "at the corner store." Thus, "In" suggests a wider scope, while "At" denotes specificity.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Location Type
General areas (cities, countries)
Specific points (addresses, landmarks)
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Jan 14, 2024
Time Reference
Durations or periods (months, seasons)
Specific moments (hours, exact times)
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Jan 14, 2024
Participation
Involvement in activities or states (in a team)
Presence at events or places (at a concert)
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Jan 14, 2024
Scope
Broader, more encompassing (in the forest)
Narrower, pinpointed (at the entrance)
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Jan 14, 2024
Abstract vs. Concrete
More abstract, conceptual (in trouble)
More concrete, literal (at the crossroads)
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Jan 14, 2024
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In and At Definitions
In
Within the limits, bounds, or area of
Was hit in the face.
Born in the spring.
A chair in the garden.
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Dec 13, 2023
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In
From the outside to a point within; into
Threw the letter in the wastebasket.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
To or at a situation or condition of
Was split in two.
In debt.
A woman in love.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
At
In or near the area occupied by; in or near the location of
At the market.
At our destination.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Having the activity, occupation, or function of
A life in politics.
The officer in command.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
At
To or toward the direction or location of, especially for a specific purpose
Questions came at us from all sides.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
With the arrangement or order of
Fabric that fell in luxuriant folds.
Arranged to purchase the car in equal payments.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
With the characteristic, attribute, or property of
A tall man in an overcoat.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Made with or through the medium of
A statue in bronze.
A note written in German.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
To or using the rate, extent, or amount of; to the point of
At 30 cents a pound.
At high speed.
At 20 paces.
At 350°F.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Used to indicate the second and larger term of a ratio or proportion
Saved only one in ten.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
(Sports) So as to score, as by crossing home plate in baseball
Singled the runner in.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Within a place, as of business or residence
The manager is in before anyone else.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
In, near, or in the general vicinity of a particular place.
Caesar was at Rome
At the corner of Fourth Street and Vine
At Jim’s house
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Dec 13, 2023
In
So as to be available or under one's control
We can proceed when all the evidence is in.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
At
Indicating occurrence in an instant of time or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker's perspective.
At six o’clock
At closing time
At night
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Dec 13, 2023
At
In the direction of (often in an unfocused or uncaring manner).
He threw the ball at me.
He shouted at her.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
So as to occupy a position of success or favor
Campaigned hard and was voted in.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
Denotes a price.
3 apples at 2¢ (each)
The offer was at $30,000 before negotiations.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
In a state of.
She is at sixes and sevens with him.
They are at loggerheads over how best to tackle the fiscal cliff.
The city was at the mercy of the occupying forces.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
Indicates a position on a scale or in a series.
Sell at 90.
Tiger finished the round at tenth, seven strokes behind the leaders.
I'm offering it—just to select customers—at cost.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
Holding a given speed or rate.
It is growing at the rate of 3% a year.
Cruising along at fifty miles per hour.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Relating to, understandable to, or coming from an exclusive group
An in reference.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
(used for skills (including in activities) or areas of knowledge) On the subject of; regarding.
The twins were both bad at chemistry.
He slipped at marksmanship over his extended vacation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or other limits.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Contained by.
The dog is in the kennel.
There were three pickles in a jar.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Within the bounds or limits of.
I like living in the city.
There are lots of trees in the park.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Surrounded by; among; amidst.
We are in the enemy camp.
Her plane is in the air.
Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
At
A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Wearing (an item of clothing).
I glanced over at the pretty girl in the red dress.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Part of; a member of; out of; from among.
You are one in a million.
She's in an orchestra.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
During (a period of time).
My birthday is in the first week of December.
Easter falls in the fourth lunar month.
The country reached a high level of prosperity in his first term.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
At
The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80°; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Within (a certain elapsed time); by the end of.
Will you be able to finish this in a week?
The massacre resulted in over 1000 deaths in three hours.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
At the end of (a period of time).
They said they would call us in a week.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
At
The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.
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Dec 13, 2023
At
Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Into.
Less water gets in your boots this way.
She stood there looking in the window longingly.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
At
A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series); a decay product of uranium and thorium
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Used to indicate limit, qualification, condition, or circumstance.
In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Denoting a state of the subject.
He stalked away in anger.
John is in a coma.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Indicates, connotatively, a place-like form of someone's (or something's) personality, as his, her or its psychic and physical characteristics.
You've got a friend in me.
He's met his match in her.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Pertaining to; with regard to.
There has been no change in his condition.
What grade did he get in English?
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
(of something offered or given in an exchange) In the form of, in the denomination of.
Please pay me in cash — preferably in tens and twenties.
The deposit can be in any legal tender, even in gold.
Her generosity was rewarded in the success of its recipients.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Used to indicate a language, script, tone, etc. of a text, speech, etc.
Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" in C minor is among his most popular.
His speech was in French, but was simultaneously translated into eight languages.
When you write in cursive, it's illegible.
Military letters should be formal in tone, but not stilted.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
At or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.
Suddenly a strange man walked in.
Would you like that to take away or eat in?
He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Towards the speaker or other reference point.
They flew in from London last night.
For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
So as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.
Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
After the beginning of something.
The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
(in combination, after a verb) Denotes a gathering of people assembled for the stated activity, sometimes, though not always, suggesting a protest.
Sing-in, pray-in, hug-in; see also be-in, love-in, sit-in, teach-in.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
A position of power or influence, or a way to get it.
His parents got him an in with the company.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
(sport) The state of a batter/batsman who is currently batting; see innings.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
(not comparable) Located indoors, especially at home or at one's office or place of work.
Is Mr. Smith in?
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Dec 13, 2023
In
(not comparable) Located inside something.
Little by little I pushed the snake into the basket, until finally all of it was in.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Falling or remaining within the bounds of the playing area.
If the tennis ball bounces on the line then it's in.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Inserted or fitted into something.
I've discovered why the TV wasn't working – the plug wasn't in!
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Having been collected or received.
The replies to the questionnaires are now all in.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Of the tide, at or near its highest level.
You can't get round the headland when the tide's in.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
(legal) With privilege or possession; used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin
In by descent;
In by purchase;
In of the seisin of her husband
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
Having familiarity or involvement with somebody.
He is very in with the Joneses.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
(informal) Having a favourable position, such as a position of influence or expected gain, in relation to another person.
I think that bird fancies you. You're in there, mate!
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
The specific signification of in is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he traveled in Italy; castles in the air.
The babe lying in a manger.
Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west.
Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude.
Matter for censure in every page.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light.
Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
With reference to a whole which includes or comprises the part spoken of; as, the first in his family; the first regiment in the army.
Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
With reference to physical surrounding, personal states, etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is in darkness; to live in fear.
When shall we three meet again,In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
With reference to character, reach, scope, or influence considered as establishing a limitation; as, to be in one's favor.
Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
With reference to movement or tendency toward a certain limit or environment; - sometimes equivalent to into; as, to put seed in the ground; to fall in love; to end in death; to put our trust in God.
He would not plunge his brother in despair.
She had no jewels to deposit in their caskets.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
Not out; within; inside. In, the preposition, becomes an adverb by omission of its object, leaving it as the representative of an adverbial phrase, the context indicating what the omitted object is; as, he takes in the situation (i. e., he comprehends it in his mind); the Republicans were in (i. e., in office); in at one ear and out at the other (i. e., in or into the head); his side was in (i. e., in the turn at the bat); he came in (i. e., into the house).
Their vacation . . . falls in so pat with ours.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
With privilege or possession; - used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin; as, in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
A reëntrant angle; a nook or corner.
All the ins and outs of this neighborhood.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 13, 2023
In
To inclose; to take in; to harvest.
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.
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Dec 13, 2023
In
A rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite
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Dec 13, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How do "In" and "At" differ in time context?
"In" for durations, "At" for precise moments.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
How do "In" and "At" compare in geographical context?
"In" for larger areas, "At" for specific locations.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
What's the basic difference between "In" and "At"?
"In" is for general locations or states, "At" for specific points or times.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
Can "At" be used for abstract concepts?
Rarely, it's more for literal places or times.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
Can "in" be used with specific points in time?
Yes, for example, "I'll see you in a moment."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
Is "At" appropriate for large places?
Generally, no. It's for specific sites like "at the corner."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
Is "in" used for non-specific periods of time?
Yes, like "She will finish the project in a few days."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
What about using "at" for specific locations within a city?
Yes, "The restaurant is at the corner of Maple and Elm Streets."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
When talking about seasons, do we use "in"?
Yes, you say, "I love to ski in the winter."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
What about using "in" for months and years?
Yes, you can say, "My birthday is in May" or "I was born in 1990."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
Is "at" used for general or non-specific times?
No, use "at" for specific points in time and "in" for general times.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
Is "at" used for events or gatherings?
Yes, you can say, "I'll see you at the party."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
Can "at" be used to indicate a person's state of mind?
No, "at" is not used to indicate emotions or mental states.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 14, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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