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
-
inputssimple
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have inputperfect
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have inputtedperfect
-
has inputperfect
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has inputtedperfect
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am inputtingprogressive
-
are inputtingprogressive
-
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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Geometry - High School
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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:
It will launch after the US Open "with a focus on player input into sporting matters at the four Grand Slam tournaments".
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
The basic rules: Look for keywords in what a user has typed, find associated rules and return some mixture of scripted words and rearranged input.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
“The continued efforts to push legislation specific to Midway is misguided and unneeded,” said Law, whose group provides input to the city on planning issues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Among the most vulnerable sectors, she cited agriculture and heavy industry as they deal with water scarcity and higher input prices, as well as insurance if firms face higher claims.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
“But how do you know which input to change?”
From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
Eliza can also store inputs and refer to them later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Such systems can evaluate multiple inputs at once while making decisions informed by previous experiences and future priorities.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
“We have to keep our information safe and protected, and we have to control the inputs and the outputs of the models,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
That fair value, which uses factors including the S&P 500, the 10-year yield and exchange rates as inputs, was actually adjusted downward given slowing rates of official — i.e., central bank — purchases.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
The IBM machines used the inputs they received to make calculations based on the orbit determination programs.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
If the CPA was using tax software, it’s pretty hard to get it wrong — unless he inputted the correct numbers.
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
Mrs Reid said she was alerted to the BMI error in July 2021 during a phone call with one of the surgery doctors, who suggested her son's weight may have been incorrectly inputted.
From BBC ● May 9, 2024
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
The software also sends reminder emails and phone alerts to prompt people to keep up with categorizing transactions that are automatically pulled in or inputting new ones manually.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Using the agent, Levi’s can finish inputting certain orders within minutes, whereas it used to take days, Chief Financial and Growth Officer Harmit Singh said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 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
The Medicare online tools don’t have a “couples” setting, so each person should go through the process by inputting their information.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 29, 2025
I climb in the front, and he talks me through inputting the address into the navigation system.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
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.
