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

But even as the mayor’s initiative brings more people indoors, a growing number are winding up back on the street.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

People are being advised to stay indoors as much as possible, and check for loose items outside that need securing ahead of the warnings coming into effect.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Stuck indoors during the pandemic, Brundage turned to spending long hours on Minecraft, a build-your-own-world videogame that, for many, is a gateway into programming.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Residents have been ordered to stay indoors as security personnel intensify patrols and maintain a visible presence across the affected areas.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

But I hated having to leave home every morning, and I hated having to spend time indoors when I wanted to be outside.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall