Synonyms

in-and-out

American

[in-uhnd-out, -uhn-] / ˈɪn əndˈaʊt, -ən- /

adjective

in or participating in a particular job, investment, etc., for a short time and then out, especially after realizing a quick profit.

noun

Manège. an obstacle consisting of two fences placed too far apart to be cleared in one jump and too close together to allow more than one or two strides between.

Etymology

Origin of in-and-out

First recorded in 1640–50, for an earlier sense

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.

Olympia, his elusive love and sporadic muse, flits in and out of his life as she works her way up the tiers of the art world’s ziggurat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

He had been in and out of jail since he was a child, said Anamely Ramos, a Cuban activist and close friend who talks to him regularly.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

The diehards chase the rarities, Springsteen changes songs in and out as the spirit moves him, and there was one tour where he took requests via sign from the audience.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

Instead, investors can trade in and out of these ETFs daily, despite their underlying portfolios being backed by securities with maturities of five, 10 and 30 years.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

She dips her paddle in and out faster, which does nothing for our forward motion, and I let go of my own paddle and bend forward, unable to sit up straight, I’m laughing so hard.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023