In vs. At — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 5, 2024
"In" suggests a general location within a larger area, while "at" indicates a specific point or place.
Difference Between In and At
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"In" is used to convey that something is located within a larger area or space, suggesting a sense of being surrounded by or included within boundaries. "At," on the other hand, pinpoints a more specific location or place. It is used to indicate exact positions or points in space.
For instance, saying "She lives in New York" conveys that she resides within the broader area of New York. Saying "Meet me at the entrance of the park" specifies a particular location within the larger area of the park.
While "in" often implies a sense of enclosure or being part of a larger whole, "at" does not necessarily convey enclosure but focuses on a precise point. For example, being "in the building" suggests being somewhere within the structure, whereas being "at the door" pinpoints the exact location.
The choice between "in" and "at" can also depend on the level of detail one wishes to convey. "In" can be used for broader, more general locations ("in the city"), while "at" is more suitable for specific, detailed locations ("at the city hall").
In terms of movement, "in" can suggest entering into a space, such as "going in the house," while "at" is static, indicating no movement into or out of a space, such as "waiting at the bus stop."
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Comparison Chart
General Usage
Suggests being within a larger area or space
Indicates a specific point or place
Implication
Enclosure, part of a whole
Precise location, point in space
Example Usage
In a city, in the world
At the door, at the station
Movement
Can imply entering into a space
Static, no movement implied
Detail Level
Broader, more general locations
Specific, detailed locations
Compare with Definitions
In
Used to indicate inclusion within space, area, or limits.
She is in the garden.
At
Used to point out specific locations.
He will wait at the corner.
In
Indicating a period of time during which an event happens or a situation remains the case.
In the 1990s, technology rapidly advanced.
At
Used when indicating a state or condition.
At peace.
In
Indicating the state or condition of something.
He is in good health.
At
Used in expressions of age, speed, etc.
She started driving at 16.
In
Used to specify occupation or involvement.
They work in education.
At
Indicating an activity.
Good at swimming.
In
Indicating the form or shape of something.
Folded in half.
At
Indicating a point in time.
At 6 PM, the meeting starts.
In
Expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else
Dressed in their Sunday best
She saw the bus in the rear-view mirror
I'm living in London
At
Expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position
They live at Conway House
They stopped at a small trattoria
In
Expressing a period of time during which an event happens or a situation remains the case
They met in 1885
I hadn't seen him in years
At one o'clock in the morning
At
Denoting a particular point or level on a scale
Driving at 50 mph
Prices start at £18,500
In
Expressing the length of time before a future event is expected to happen
I'll see you in fifteen minutes
At
Expressing a particular state or condition
His ready smile put her at ease
They were at a disadvantage
In
(often followed by a noun without a determiner) expressing a state or condition
I've got to put my affairs in order
To be in love
A woman in her thirties
At
Expressing the object of a look, thought, action, or plan
I looked at my watch
Policies aimed at reducing taxation
Leslie pointed at him
In
Expressing inclusion or involvement
I read it in a book
Acting in a film
At
Expressing the means by which something is done
Her pride had taken a beating at his hands
Holding a prison officer at knifepoint
In
Indicating someone's occupation or profession
She works in publishing
At
A monetary unit of Laos, equal to one hundredth of a kip.
In
Indicating the language or medium used
Put it in writing
Say it in French
At
In or near the area occupied by; in or near the location of
At the market.
At our destination.
In
As an integral part of (an activity)
In planning public expenditure it is better to be prudent
At
In or near the position of
Always at my side.
At the center of the page.
In
Expressing a value as a proportion of (a whole)
A local income tax running at six pence in the pound
At
To or toward the direction or location of, especially for a specific purpose
Questions came at us from all sides.
In
Expressing movement with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else
Come in
Presently the admiral breezed in
At
Present during; attending
At the dance.
In
Expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something
We were locked in
At
Within the interval or span of
At the dinner hour.
At a glance.
In
Expressing arrival
The train got in very late
At
In the state or condition of
At peace with one's conscience.
In
(of the tide) rising or at its highest level.
At
In the activity or field of
Skilled at playing chess.
Good at math.
In
Present at one's home or office
We knocked at the door but there was no one in
At
To or using the rate, extent, or amount of; to the point of
At 30 cents a pound.
At high speed.
At 20 paces.
At 350°F.
In
Fashionable
The in thing to do
Pastels and light colours are in this year
At
On, near, or by the time or age of
At three o'clock.
At 72 years of age.
In
(of the ball in tennis and similar games) landing within the designated playing area.
At
On account of; because of
Rejoice at a victory.
In
Batting
Which side is in?
At
By way of; through
Exited at the rear gate.
In
A position of influence with someone powerful or famous
She got an in with the promising new artist
At
In accord with; following
At my request.
In
Within the limits, bounds, or area of
Was hit in the face.
Born in the spring.
A chair in the garden.
At
Dependent upon
At the mercy of the court.
In
From the outside to a point within; into
Threw the letter in the wastebasket.
At
Occupied with
At work.
In
To or at a situation or condition of
Was split in two.
In debt.
A woman in love.
At
In, near, or in the general vicinity of a particular place.
Caesar was at Rome
At the corner of Fourth Street and Vine
At Jim’s house
In
Having the activity, occupation, or function of
A life in politics.
The officer in command.
At
Indicating occurrence in an instant of time or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker's perspective.
At six o’clock
At closing time
At night
In
During the act or process of
Tripped in racing for the bus.
At
In the direction of (often in an unfocused or uncaring manner).
He threw the ball at me.
He shouted at her.
In
With the arrangement or order of
Fabric that fell in luxuriant folds.
Arranged to purchase the car in equal payments.
At
Denotes a price.
3 apples at 2¢ (each)
The offer was at $30,000 before negotiations.
In
After the style or form of
A poem in iambic pentameter.
At
Occupied in (activity).
Men at work
In
With the characteristic, attribute, or property of
A tall man in an overcoat.
At
In a state of.
She is at sixes and sevens with him.
They are at loggerheads over how best to tackle the fiscal cliff.
The city was at the mercy of the occupying forces.
In
By means of
Paid in cash.
At
Indicates a position on a scale or in a series.
Sell at 90.
Tiger finished the round at tenth, seven strokes behind the leaders.
I'm offering it—just to select customers—at cost.
In
Made with or through the medium of
A statue in bronze.
A note written in German.
At
Because of.
To laugh at a joke
Mad at their comments
In
With the aim or purpose of
Followed in pursuit.
At
Indicates a means, method, or manner.
In
With reference to
Six inches in depth.
Has faith in your judgment.
At
Holding a given speed or rate.
It is growing at the rate of 3% a year.
Cruising along at fifty miles per hour.
In
Used to indicate the second and larger term of a ratio or proportion
Saved only one in ten.
At
(used for skills (including in activities) or areas of knowledge) On the subject of; regarding.
The twins were both bad at chemistry.
He slipped at marksmanship over his extended vacation.
In
To or toward the inside
Opened the door and stepped in.
At
Bothering, irritating, causing discomfort to
In
To or toward a destination or goal
The mob closed in.
At
On a particular date.
In
(Sports) So as to score, as by crossing home plate in baseball
Singled the runner in.
At
The at sign (@).
In
Within a place, as of business or residence
The manager is in before anyone else.
At
Rare form of @
In
So as to be available or under one's control
We can proceed when all the evidence is in.
At
Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at.
In
So as to include or incorporate
Fold in the egg whites.
At
A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.
In
So as to occupy a position of success or favor
Campaigned hard and was voted in.
At
The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.
In
In a particular relationship
Got in bad with their supervisor.
At
The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.
In
Located inside; inner.
At
The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80°; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.
In
Incoming; inward
Took the in bus.
At
The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.
In
Holding office; having power
The in party.
At
The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.
In
Currently fashionable
The in thing to wear this season.
At
Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.
In
Concerned with or attuned to the latest fashions
The in crowd.
At
A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series); a decay product of uranium and thorium
In
Relating to, understandable to, or coming from an exclusive group
An in reference.
At
100 at equal 1 kip
In
One that has position, influence, or power
The ins against the outs.
In
(Informal) Influence; power
Had an in with the authorities.
In
Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or other limits.
In
Contained by.
The dog is in the kennel.
There were three pickles in a jar.
In
Within the bounds or limits of.
I like living in the city.
There are lots of trees in the park.
In
Surrounded by; among; amidst.
We are in the enemy camp.
Her plane is in the air.
Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!
In
Wearing (an item of clothing).
I glanced over at the pretty girl in the red dress.
In
Part of; a member of; out of; from among.
You are one in a million.
She's in an orchestra.
In
During (a period of time).
My birthday is in the first week of December.
Easter falls in the fourth lunar month.
The country reached a high level of prosperity in his first term.
In
At the end of (a period of time).
They said they would call us in a week.
In
Characterized by.
Many English nouns in -is form their plurals in -es.
In
Into.
Less water gets in your boots this way.
She stood there looking in the window longingly.
In
Used to indicate limit, qualification, condition, or circumstance.
In replacing the faucet washers, he felt he was making his contribution to the environment.
In
Indicating an order or arrangement.
My fat rolls around in folds.
In
Denoting a state of the subject.
He stalked away in anger.
John is in a coma.
In
Indicates, connotatively, a place-like form of someone's (or something's) personality, as his, her or its psychic and physical characteristics.
You've got a friend in me.
He's met his match in her.
In
Pertaining to; with regard to.
There has been no change in his condition.
What grade did he get in English?
In
Used to indicate means, medium, format, genre, or instrumentality.
In
(of something offered or given in an exchange) In the form of, in the denomination of.
Please pay me in cash — preferably in tens and twenties.
The deposit can be in any legal tender, even in gold.
Her generosity was rewarded in the success of its recipients.
In
Used to indicate a language, script, tone, etc. of a text, speech, etc.
Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" in C minor is among his most popular.
His speech was in French, but was simultaneously translated into eight languages.
When you write in cursive, it's illegible.
Military letters should be formal in tone, but not stilted.
In
To enclose.
In
To take in; to harvest.
In
At or towards the interior of a defined space, such as a building or room.
Suddenly a strange man walked in.
Would you like that to take away or eat in?
He ran to the edge of the swimming pool and dived in.
In
Towards the speaker or other reference point.
They flew in from London last night.
For six hours the tide flows in, then for another six hours it flows out.
In
So as to be enclosed or surrounded by something.
Bring the water to the boil and drop the vegetables in.
In
After the beginning of something.
The show still didn't become interesting 20 minutes in.
In
(in combination, after a verb) Denotes a gathering of people assembled for the stated activity, sometimes, though not always, suggesting a protest.
Sing-in, pray-in, hug-in; see also be-in, love-in, sit-in, teach-in.
In
A position of power or influence, or a way to get it.
His parents got him an in with the company.
In
One who, or that which, is in; especially, one who is in office.
In
(sport) The state of a batter/batsman who is currently batting; see innings.
In
A re-entrant angle; a nook or corner.
In
Abbreviation of inch; inches
In
(not comparable) Located indoors, especially at home or at one's office or place of work.
Is Mr. Smith in?
In
(not comparable) Located inside something.
Little by little I pushed the snake into the basket, until finally all of it was in.
In
Falling or remaining within the bounds of the playing area.
If the tennis ball bounces on the line then it's in.
In
Inserted or fitted into something.
I've discovered why the TV wasn't working – the plug wasn't in!
In
Having been collected or received.
The replies to the questionnaires are now all in.
In
In fashion; popular.
Skirts are in this year.
In
Incoming.
The in train
In
Furled or stowed.
In
Of the tide, at or near its highest level.
You can't get round the headland when the tide's in.
In
(legal) With privilege or possession; used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin
In by descent;
In by purchase;
In of the seisin of her husband
In
(cricket) Currently batting.
In
Having familiarity or involvement with somebody.
He is very in with the Joneses.
In
(informal) Having a favourable position, such as a position of influence or expected gain, in relation to another person.
I think that bird fancies you. You're in there, mate!
In
(of fire or fuel) Burning; ablaze.
In
The specific signification of in is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among.
In
With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he traveled in Italy; castles in the air.
The babe lying in a manger.
Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west.
Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude.
Matter for censure in every page.
In
With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light.
Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils.
In
With reference to a whole which includes or comprises the part spoken of; as, the first in his family; the first regiment in the army.
Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry.
In
With reference to physical surrounding, personal states, etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is in darkness; to live in fear.
When shall we three meet again,In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
In
With reference to character, reach, scope, or influence considered as establishing a limitation; as, to be in one's favor.
Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh.
In
With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life.
In
Not out; within; inside. In, the preposition, becomes an adverb by omission of its object, leaving it as the representative of an adverbial phrase, the context indicating what the omitted object is; as, he takes in the situation (i. e., he comprehends it in his mind); the Republicans were in (i. e., in office); in at one ear and out at the other (i. e., in or into the head); his side was in (i. e., in the turn at the bat); he came in (i. e., into the house).
Their vacation . . . falls in so pat with ours.
In
With privilege or possession; - used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin; as, in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband.
In
One who is in office; - the opposite of out.
In
A reëntrant angle; a nook or corner.
All the ins and outs of this neighborhood.
In
To inclose; to take in; to harvest.
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.
In
A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
In
A rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite
In
A state in midwestern United States
In
Holding office;
The in party
In
Directed or bound inward;
Took the in bus
The in basket
In
Currently fashionable;
The in thing to do
Large shoulder pads are in
In
To or toward the inside of;
Come in
Smash in the door
In
Inside an enclosed space
Common Curiosities
Is "in" or "at" used for cities and countries?
"In" is used for cities and countries to indicate the broader area or space.
How does movement affect the choice between "in" and "at"?
"In" can imply entering or being inside a space, while "at" is static, indicating presence at a specific location without movement into or out of it.
How do I choose between "in" and "at" for locations?
For general areas, use "in." For specific locations, use "at."
When should I use "in" instead of "at"?
Use "in" to talk about something that is located within a larger area or to describe being part of a larger whole.
Are there exceptions to the rules for "in" and "at"?
Yes, idiomatic expressions and certain fixed phrases might not follow the general rules.
Can "at" and "in" be used interchangeably?
While there are contexts where they might seem interchangeable, "at" and "in" have distinct uses based on specificity and enclosure.
Do "in" and "at" have the same meaning in all contexts?
No, their meanings differ based on context, with "in" implying inclusion and "at" indicating specific points.
Can "in" and "at" both be used for time expressions?
Yes, but differently. "In" is used for months, years, centuries, and long periods, while "at" is used for clock times, holidays, and specific times of day.
What is the rule for using "in" and "at" in sentences?
The rule is based on the level of specificity; "in" for broader contexts and "at" for precise locations or points.
How can I improve my use of "in" and "at"?
Practice by identifying whether you’re discussing a general area or a specific point in various sentences.
What are some common mistakes when using "in" and "at"?
A common mistake is using "at" when describing a general location and "in" for a precise location, which reverses their intended use.
How do "in" and "at" affect the tone of a sentence?
They can subtly change the focus of a sentence from a broader context to a specific location, affecting how information is conveyed.
Can the choice between "in" and "at" change the meaning of a sentence?
Yes, it can change the level of specificity and thus the sentence's precise meaning.
Is there a difference in using "in" and "at" between American and British English?
Generally, the rules are the same, but there may be slight differences in colloquial usage.
How do prepositions like "in" and "at" influence language learning?
They are crucial for accurately conveying location, time, and other specific details, making them essential for effective communication.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
