indoors

American  

[in-dawrz, -dohrz] / ɪnˈdɔrz, -ˈdoʊrz /

adverb

1. in or into a house or building.

   We stayed indoors during the storm.

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indoors British  

/ ˌɪnˈdɔːz /

adverb

1. (postpositive) inside or into a house or other building

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Etymology

Origin of indoors

1780–90; indoor + -s 1

Explanation

If you're indoors, you're inside a house or other building. On the hottest, most sweltering summer days, you might decide to stay indoors where it's cool. During a typical school day, elementary school students spend most of their time indoors, reading, writing, doing math, singing songs, and painting pictures. When they leave the indoors and go outside for recess, you can say they're outdoors. Indoors, first used around 1800 (sometimes attributed to George Washington), comes from indoor, a shortened form of within door.

Example Sentences

Home renovations boomed during the pandemic, as many homeowners were stuck indoors.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

"Long before the civil wars, men and boys were expected to doff their hats, indoors or out, whenever they met a superior," he says.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2026

Mahan, the mayor of San José, who often touts his city’s success at moving people indoors, agreed that emergency and interim housing was critical, but also voiced support for forcing folks to accept help.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

When he arrived home, his mother told him to "stay indoors" and not to "go outside because of the protests" that had by that point reached his neighbourhood.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

“Come on in,” the woman says, beckoning us indoors with a nod.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer