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

Officials encouraged community members to stay indoors, keep their pets inside and avoid approaching and photographing the animal.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

In Northern Virginia, residents near data centers have complained of a constant high-pitched whine from cooling and backup equipment, serious enough to drive people indoors.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

To avoid being found, Alex recalls he wore hats and glasses, grew out his hair and stayed indoors most of the time as news of his disappearance spread.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Then he went indoors and worked at making himself a winter cape, with hood.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig