within
Americanadverb
-
in or into the interior or inner part; inside.
-
in or into a house, building, etc.; indoors.
The fire was burning on the hearth within.
-
on, or as regards, the inside; internally.
-
inside an enclosed place, area, room, etc..
He was startled by a cry from within.
-
in the mind, heart, or soul; inwardly.
preposition
-
in or into the interior of or the parts or space enclosed by.
within city walls.
-
inside of; in.
-
in the compass or limits of; not beyond.
within view;
to live within one's income.
-
at or to some point not beyond, as in length or distance; not farther than.
within a radius of a mile.
-
at or to some amount or degree not exceeding.
within two degrees of freezing.
-
in the course or period of, as in time.
within one's memory;
within three minutes.
-
inside of the limits fixed or required by; not transgressing.
within the law.
-
in the field, sphere, or scope of.
within the family;
within one's power.
noun
preposition
-
in; inside; enclosed or encased by
-
before (a period of time) has elapsed
within a week
-
not beyond the limits of; not differing by more than (a specified amount) from
live within your means
within seconds of the world record
adverb
Etymology
Origin of within
First recorded before 1000; Middle English withinne (preposition and adverb), Old English withinnan (adverb), equivalent to with with- + innan “from within,” equivalent to in in + -an, suffix of motion
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.
"They forced it and made reforms within the party," she tells the BBC.
From BBC
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution — legislation meant to check presidential war-making authority — the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of initiating military action and seek approval if operations extend beyond 60 days.
From Salon
Yet under this law, the president must still inform Congress within 48 hours.
From Barron's
Mediated talks between the US and Iran were due to continue next week, with mediator Oman claiming on Friday a breakthrough was within reach with Iran offering no stockpiling of nuclear material.
From BBC
This interaction activates CRISPR, which then carries out specific gene modifications within the cell.
From Science Daily
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.