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

He is now 10 kilometers into Lebanon and when he and other soldiers receive an alert about incoming FPVs, almost always during the day, they are told to immediately go indoors and wait.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

This, prosecutors said, was because they did not comply with NHS sleep guidance, could be too hot indoors and had a soft surface that could surround a baby's head and face.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

He must have sensed the anger that was rising up her body and making her lightheaded because he went back indoors silently.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie