input
Americannoun
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inputs
plural
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something that is put in.
-
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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inputs,
present (3rd person singular)
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input,
past participle, past
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inputted,
past participle, past
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inputting
present participle
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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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inputsimple
-
inputssimple
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have inputperfect
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have inputtedperfect
-
has inputperfect
-
has inputtedperfect
-
am inputtingprogressive
-
are inputtingprogressive
-
is inputtingprogressive
-
have been inputtingperfect progressive
-
has been inputtingperfect progressive
Past
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inputsimple
-
inputtedsimple
-
had inputperfect
-
had inputtedperfect
-
was inputtingprogressive
-
were inputtingprogressive
-
had been inputtingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
Among the most vulnerable sectors, she cited agriculture and heavy industry as they deal with water scarcity and higher input prices, as well as insurance if firms face higher claims.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The lateral septum inherits much of its primary input from a brain region called the hippocampus.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
“This project started with several community meetings and community input, and to be successful, we need our neighbors to know and feel that this project is for them and to build a prosperous future.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
I would appreciate some input on whether it makes sense to pay off our mortgage.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026
Finally, it became clear: the problem wasn’t with her output but with his input.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
“We have to keep our information safe and protected, and we have to control the inputs and the outputs of the models,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
China is a price setter for fertilizer inputs like sulfur coming out of the Gulf.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
So Hormuz blocks commodity exports, Yuntianhua buys fertilizer inputs at a premium, then Beijing reduces global supply by restricting phosphate exports — and fertilizer prices go up.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
Results were also dented by reduced international refining runs because of a 10 percent drop in crude oil inputs.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
I give her my email and she inputs it into her phone.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
You can check your tax returns by making sure that the information this CPA inputted is correct; the software will do the rest.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 27, 2026
Employees who previously inputted orders are now focused on collecting receivables, Singh said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
They then inputted these charge values into computational models to mathematically predict how strong the electric field would be when a wasp approaches a caterpillar on a plant.
From Science Daily ● May 24, 2024
Its records go back to 2004, which allows many to see who was on a team or how many yards rushing someone had, if a school inputted the information.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2022
Images, data, and simulations are part of the work and part of the shared knowledge, already available in formats that can be inputted for further work or can be technologically tested.
From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin
The software also sends reminder emails and phone alerts to prompt people to keep up with categorizing transactions that are automatically pulled in or inputting new ones manually.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Using the agent, Levi’s can finish inputting certain orders within minutes, whereas it used to take days, Chief Financial and Growth Officer Harmit Singh said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
One of AI’s most significant contributions so far is extracting data from standard common tax forms such as W-2s and 1099s and inputting it into tax returns.
From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026
Galea built on these findings, inputting the layout of The Station club into a computer simulator he created which predicts how fires spread.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2026
Only when the series of equations had been sufficiently reduced would she start the process of inputting values and coming up with numbers using the calculating machines.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
