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• in-line
  in-line

  adjective

  (of an internal-combustion engine) having the cylinders ranged side by side in one or more rows along the crankshaft.
• in line
  in line

  Also, in line with . In conformity or agreement; within ordinary or proper limits. For example, The new policy was intended to keep prices in line with their competitors , or It's up to the supervisor to keep the nurses in line . Also see fall in line .

in-line

American  

[in-lahyn, in-lahyn] / ˌɪnˈlaɪn, ˈɪnˌlaɪn /

adjective

1. (of an internal-combustion engine) having the cylinders ranged side by side in one or more rows along the crankshaft.

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in-line British  

adjective

1. denoting a linked sequence of manufacturing processes

2. denoting an internal-combustion engine having its cylinders arranged in a line

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in line Idioms  

1. Also, in line with . In conformity or agreement; within ordinary or proper limits. For example, The new policy was intended to keep prices in line with their competitors , or It's up to the supervisor to keep the nurses in line . Also see fall in line .

2. Also, on line . Waiting behind others in a row or queue. For example, The children stood in line for their lunches , or There were at least 50 persons on line for opera tickets .

3. in line for . Next in order for, as in He is next in line for the presidency . All of these terms employ line in the sense of “an orderly row or series of persons or objects,” a usage dating from the 1500s.

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Etymology

Origin of in-line

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in-line in line

Payrolls data at the start of the month "was followed by broadly in-line inflation, softer retail sales and weaker consumer sentiment", said Fawad Razaqzada at Forex.com.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

Sandisk’s forward guidance was slightly below previous analyst estimates, while Western Digital’s outlook was in-line with expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Adjusted earnings were 15 cents a share, in-line with analyst forecasts, according to FactSet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

An in-line report showing elevated inflation pressures that suggest core PCE is going to have a tough time coming back down, even with fuel prices dropping, could still increase the likelihood of a hike.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026

It was the ‘Bullet N°2’ racing car, the first with an eight-cylinder, in-line engine, according to Eugene Hammond.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

The analyst’s thesis on these companies is in line with what he views to be a broader industry trend, which is that cybersecurity companies are still “accelerating nicely” but expectations may have gotten too high.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026

Under the proposals, while the basic MLA salary will increase in line with earnings growth, payments for different office holders will remain unchanged throughout the 2027-32 mandate.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Amazon employees are in line for an increase to their minimum starting wage.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

Although 2Q gross margin slipped to 15.7% from 19.2% in 1Q as tighter domestic gold trading margins halved precious metals profit, the company’s fiscal 2026 operational guidance is broadly in line with expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

“I’d like a buttered roll,” said the next person in line.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• consecutive
• nonstop
• short
• smooth
• solid
• straightforward
• successive
• true