If you have ever had to check in at a hotel, felt like you did not fit in at a new job, or needed someone to fill in for you, you have already used phrasal verbs with IN.
These verbs show up every day in natural English. You hear them at work, at home, and in casual conversation. This guide covers the most important phrasal verbs with In, with clear definitions and real example sentences you can start using right away.
What Is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more small words called particles. A particle is usually a preposition or an adverb. Together, the verb and the particle create a new meaning that is often very different from the original verb.
For example:
- The word give means to hand something to someone.
- But give in means to stop resisting and accept defeat.
Understanding how particles work gives you a big advantage as an English learner. If you are new to phrasal verbs, this guide on using English phrasal verbs is a great place to start.
What Does “In” Mean in Phrasal Verbs?
Before you look at each verb, it helps to know the ideas that in often brings to a phrase.
In often suggests:
- Entering or arriving: check in, come in, move in
- Inclusion or participation: join in, fit in, bring in
- Submission or surrender: give in, hand in, turn in
- Reduction or containment: close in, box in, hem in
- Beginning an activity: dig in, dive in, kick in
When you understand these patterns, new phrasal verbs become much easier to guess.
Quick Reference Table
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bring in | To introduce something new; to earn money |
| Call in | To phone a place; to ask someone to come |
| Check in | To register your arrival |
| Close in | To move nearer in a threatening way |
| Come in | To enter; to become available |
| Cut in | To interrupt; to move suddenly in front |
| Dig in | To start eating; to defend a position firmly |
| Drop in | To visit without an appointment |
| Fall in | To collapse; to agree with a plan |
| Fill in | To complete a form; to substitute for someone |
| Fit in | To feel accepted; to find time for something |
| Give in | To stop resisting; to hand something over |
| Hand in | To submit something officially |
| Join in | To take part in an activity |
| Keep in | To prevent from leaving; to stay in contact |
| Kick in | To start working or taking effect. |
| Let in | To allow someone to enter |
| Log in | To access a system with a password |
| Move in | To start living somewhere new |
| Opt in | To choose to participate |
| Phase in | To introduce something gradually |
| Plug in | To connect a device to a power source |
| Pull in | To arrive; to attract people |
| Put in | To install; to contribute effort or time |
| Send in | To submit or deploy something |
| Set in | To begin and become established |
| Step in | To get involved to help or take over |
| Take in | To absorb information; to deceive someone |
| Tune in | To watch or listen to a broadcast |
| Turn in | To submit; to go to bed |
Essential Phrasal Verbs with In
Bring In
Meaning: To introduce something new to a situation. To earn a certain amount of money.
Examples:
- The company decided to bring in a new policy on remote work.
- She brings in a good salary with her freelance writing.
- The government plans to bring in new rules next year.
Call In
Meaning: To phone a place or person. To ask someone to come and help.
Examples:
- He called in sick on Monday morning.
- The manager called in an expert to look at the problem.
- She called in to check on the delivery status.
Check In
Meaning: To register your arrival at a hotel, airport, or event. To contact someone to give or get an update.
Examples:
- We need to check in at the hotel before 3 pm.
- Please check in with me after the meeting.
- Passengers must check in at least two hours before the flight.
Close In
Meaning: To move nearer in a threatening or surrounding way.
Examples:
- The storm was closing in fast.
- The police closed in on the suspect.
- As winter closes in, the days get shorter.
Come In
Meaning: To enter a place. To become available or arrive.
Examples:
- Please come in and take a seat.
- The test results came in this morning.
- New stock will come in at the end of the week.
Cut In
Meaning: To interrupt a conversation. To move suddenly in front of another vehicle.
Examples:
- She cut in while he was still speaking.
- A truck cut in right in front of us on the highway.
- He kept cutting in and not letting anyone else talk.
Dig In
Meaning: To start eating. To hold firmly to a position and refuse to change.
Examples:
- The food is ready. Dig in!
- Both sides dug in and refused to compromise.
- She dug in and worked through the night to finish the report.
Drop In
Meaning: To visit someone without a planned appointment. To add something briefly.
Examples:
- Feel free to drop in any time you are nearby.
- He dropped in on his parents after work.
- She dropped in a comment that surprised everyone.
Fall In
Meaning: To collapse inward. To agree with a plan or fall into line.
Examples:
- The ceiling fell in after the storm.
- The rest of the team fell in with the manager’s idea.
- Soldiers were told to fall in and stand at attention.
Fill In
Meaning: To complete a form with information. To act as a substitute for someone.
Examples:
- Please fill in the application form and return it by Friday.
- Can you fill in for me while I am on vacation?
- She filled in all the details on the registration form.
Many learners confuse fill in with fill out. Both mean to complete a form, but fill in is more common in everyday American English. For more on common errors like this, read this guide on common mistakes with phrasal verbs.
Fit In
Meaning: To feel accepted by a group. To find time for something in a busy schedule.
Examples:
- It took her a few weeks to fit in at the new school.
- I do not know how he fits in so much exercise every day.
- He never really fit in with that group of people.
Give In
Meaning: To stop resisting and accept defeat. To hand something to someone in authority.
Examples:
- After hours of arguing, he finally gave in.
- Do not give in to pressure. Stick to your decision.
- She gave in her notice at the end of the month.
Hand In
Meaning: To submit something officially to a person in authority.
Examples:
- All assignments must be handed in by Thursday.
- He handed in his resignation after the meeting.
- Please hand in your exam papers when you are done.
Join In
Meaning: To take part in an activity with other people.
Examples:
- Everyone is welcome to join in the discussion.
- The children joined in the singing.
- Do not be shy. Join in!
Keep In
Meaning: To prevent someone from leaving. To stay in contact with someone.
Examples:
- The teacher kept the students in after class.
- Make sure you keep in touch while you are traveling.
- They kept him in hospital for two more days.
Kick In
Meaning: To start working or taking effect.
Examples:
- The medication will kick in after about 30 minutes.
- Fear really kicked in when she realized she was lost.
- Government support for small businesses finally kicked in after the crisis.
Let In
Meaning: To allow someone or something to enter.
Examples:
- Can you let in the delivery person? I am upstairs.
- The window was broken and letting in cold air.
- She let in her neighbor who had lost her key.
Log In
Meaning: To access a computer system, app, or website using a username and password.
Examples:
- You need to log in to view your account details.
- I forgot my password and could not log in.
- Log in with your email address and click continue.
Move In
Meaning: To start living in a new home. To get closer to someone or something.
Examples:
- They moved in to their new apartment last weekend.
- Police moved in to control the crowd.
- She asked her boyfriend to move in with her.
Opt In
Meaning: To choose to participate in something, usually a program or service.
Examples:
- You need to opt in to receive our newsletter.
- Employees were asked to opt in to the new benefits program.
- Customers who opt in will get early access to new products.
Phase In
Meaning: To introduce something new gradually over a period of time.
Examples:
- The new system will be phased in over the next six months.
- The company decided to phase in the changes slowly.
- New safety rules will be phased in starting next year.
Plug In
Meaning: To connect a device to a power source or another device.
Examples:
- Plug in your laptop before the battery dies.
- The speakers are not working. Did you plug them in?
- She plugged in her phone as soon as she got home.
Pull In
Meaning: To arrive at a place. To attract a large number of people or money.
Examples:
- The train pulled in right on time.
- The new exhibit pulled in thousands of visitors.
- He pulls in a huge salary at that company.
Put In
Meaning: To install something. To contribute time or effort to something.
Examples:
- We had a new kitchen put in last summer.
- She puts in long hours every week.
- He put in a lot of work to get that promotion.
Send In
Meaning: To submit something by mail or online. To deploy people to a place.
Examples:
- Send in your application before the deadline.
- Troops were sent in to restore order.
- She sent in her entry for the writing competition.
Set In
Meaning: To begin and become established, usually used for something unpleasant.
Examples:
- If you do not treat that cut, infection could set in.
- Panic set in when the fire alarm went off.
- Winter has really set in this week.
Step In
Meaning: To get involved in a situation to help or take control.
Examples:
- The manager stepped in to resolve the conflict.
- No one else helped, so she stepped in and took charge.
- His father stepped in and paid for the repairs.
Take In
Meaning: To absorb or understand information. To deceive someone. To give someone a place to stay.
Examples:
- There was so much information, I could not take it all in.
- He was completely taken in by the scam.
- She took in a stray cat she found on the street.
Tune In
Meaning: To watch or listen to a TV or radio program. To become aware of or focused on something.
Examples:
- Tune in every Friday for the latest episode.
- Millions of people tuned in to watch the final.
- Try to tune in to how your audience is feeling.
Turn In
Meaning: To submit work or a document. To go to bed. To hand a person over to the authorities.
Examples:
- I need to turn in my report by noon.
- It was midnight and she decided to turn in.
- He turned in the suspect to the police.
Phrasal Verbs with In in Real Conversations
Seeing these verbs in short dialogues shows you how natural they sound every day.
At work:
“Can you fill in for me on Thursday? I need to hand in my report early. The boss has brought in a new rule about deadlines.”
At home:
“Just drop in any time. We moved in last month and are still getting settled. Dig in when you arrive. I will have food ready.”
Online:
“You need to log in first. Then opt in to the newsletter. Make sure you plug in your device so it does not die during the session.”
Tips for Remembering Phrasal Verbs with In
- Group them by meaning. Learn check in, move in, and come in together. They all relate to entering or arriving.
- Write your own sentences. Do not just read the definition. Create a sentence using a verb from your own life.
- Notice them as you read. When you see a phrasal verb with IN in an article or book, stop and check the meaning.
- Use them in conversation. Pick one verb each day and use it when you speak or write.
- Test yourself. Use a quiz to check what you remember.
Grouping phrasal verbs into categories is one of the best ways to learn them faster. This guide on phrasal verb categories explains how to do this step by step.
Separable and inseparable phrasal verbs are another thing to pay attention to. For example, you say plug it in, not plug in it. This guide on separable and inseparable phrasal verbs covers all the rules clearly.
FAQ: Phrasal Verbs with In
Keep Learning
Phrasal verbs with IN are a big part of natural, everyday English. From checking in at a hotel to stepping in to help a friend, these verbs come up in almost every situation.
Start with the verbs in the summary table above. Pick five that feel useful to you and write your own sentences. Come back to this page as your vocabulary grows.
Ready for more? Read our guide on phrasal verbs with UP or explore phrasal verbs with GO next.
