in the air
Idioms-
In addition to the following idiom, also see castles in the air; leave hanging (in the air); nose in the air; up in the air.
-
In circulation, in people's thoughts. For example, There's a rumor in the air that they're closing , or Christmas is in the air . [Second half of 1800s] Also see in the wind .
-
See up in the air . [Mid-1700s]
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.
In such an orientation, participants appear as though they are sitting in the air.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2026
“Change is very much in the air all over the country, and it certainly is here,” said Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the Luskin School of Public Affairs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026
Josimar Medina, a 31-year-old Peruvian who was holidaying in Spain with his girlfriend, said he was sleeping on the Renfe train when "I woke up and I was in the air."
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Zion Suzuki: Good in the air, decent distribution and made three important stops to deny Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Josko Gvardiol with a brilliant, fingertip save.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
A couple of trolls came very near the fire, and sparks flew up in the air before they rolled away laughing in their grunty, snorty way.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
