input
Americannoun
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inputs
plural
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something that is put in.
-
the act or process of putting in.
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the power or energy supplied to a machine.
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the current or voltage applied to an electric or electronic circuit or device.
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Computers.
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data to be entered into a computer for processing.
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the process of introducing data into the internal storage of a computer.
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contribution of information, ideas, opinions, or the like.
Before making a decision we need your input.
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the available data for solving a technical problem.
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Scot. a monetary contribution, as to charity.
adjective
verb (used with object)
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inputs,
present (3rd person singular)
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input,
past participle, past
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inputted,
past participle, past
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inputting
present participle
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Computers. to enter (data) into a computer for processing.
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to contribute (ideas, information, or suggestions) to a project, discussion, etc.
noun
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the act of putting in
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that which is put in
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(often plural) a resource required for industrial production, such as capital goods, labour services, raw materials, etc
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electronics
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the signal or current fed into a component or circuit
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the terminals, or some other point, to which the signal is applied
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computing the data fed into a computer from a peripheral device
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(modifier) of or relating to electronic, computer, or other input
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inputsimple
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inputssimple
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have inputperfect
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have inputtedperfect
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has inputperfect
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has inputtedperfect
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am inputtingprogressive
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are inputtingprogressive
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is inputtingprogressive
-
have been inputtingperfect progressive
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has been inputtingperfect progressive
Past
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inputsimple
-
inputtedsimple
-
had inputperfect
-
had inputtedperfect
-
was inputtingprogressive
-
were inputtingprogressive
-
had been inputtingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of input
Explanation
Input is that which is, well, put in—whether literally, as in "the input from the guitar to the speaker," or more conceptually, as in "the group leader wanted everybody's input." The verb input, in the computer sense, didn't exist much before the late 1940's when it became common among computer professionals, who input data into their machines. Why they weren't satisfied just to "put in" the data, we may never know. Before that, the noun input was an economic term meaning anything that went into production: the grain was just one input among several required for the production of cereal. But often, these days, input means a contribution of some kind, usually a thought. You'll thank me for my input later.
Vocabulary lists containing input
Economics
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Unit 1: Ecological Systems
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Functions (Introductory)
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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.
See Examples For:
Last week, I was at a parking machine and needed to input my license plate number.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
You could argue that input was worth 10 points.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Energy is a costly and unique input into economic production.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
"We need local knowledge and input to go into shaping developments to improve them and make sure that we get better data centres at the end of it," he said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
Drafted mostly by Szilard with Einstein’s input, the two-page, eight-paragraph document buries the urgency of the situation under dry and conditional prose, its momentousness communicated largely by Einstein’s signature at the bottom.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
“It is the leading edge of a system that lacks accountability, effective monitoring, and prioritizes inputs rather than outcomes.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Using these inputs, Hicformer predicts gene activity across different types of cells.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
Elevated costs for diesel, fertilizer and other farm inputs have increased production expenses across the agricultural sector, creating headwinds for farmers and supporting higher crop prices, he noted.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 13, 2026
This would include waiving of taxes on animal feed inputs, as well as "active retail price monitoring to deter opportunity price gouging and rationing".
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
To Monod, diauxie suggested that genes could be regulated by metabolic inputs.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
You can check your tax returns by making sure that the information this CPA inputted is correct; the software will do the rest.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 27, 2026
Employees who previously inputted orders are now focused on collecting receivables, Singh said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
They then inputted these charge values into computational models to mathematically predict how strong the electric field would be when a wasp approaches a caterpillar on a plant.
From Science Daily ● May 24, 2024
At 14:30 BST, Nats confirmed that flight plans were being inputted manually, which meant heavy restrictions on the number of flights in and out of the UK.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2023
Images, data, and simulations are part of the work and part of the shared knowledge, already available in formats that can be inputted for further work or can be technologically tested.
From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin
Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst, said asking specific questions can be more helpful than simply inputting a general query when using AI tools.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
The hotel chain launched an investigation which has been unable to find anyone responsible for inputting the message, but is now planning to roll out antisemitism training for staff in response.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
One of AI’s most significant contributions so far is extracting data from standard common tax forms such as W-2s and 1099s and inputting it into tax returns.
From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026
People who are immersed in AI often have some surprisingly old-fashioned habits, from scrawling meeting notes on paper to inputting calendar entries manually.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025
Only when the series of equations had been sufficiently reduced would she start the process of inputting values and coming up with numbers using the calculating machines.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions 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.
