Definitions

in and out

[in-uhnd-out, -uhn-] / ˈɪn əndˈaʊt, -ən- /

ADJECTIVE

to and fro

Synonyms

WEAK

backward and forward backwards and forwards forward and back from side to side here and there off and on seesaw up and down zigzag

ADVERB

back and forth

Synonyms

WEAK

alternating backwards and forwards from pillar to post from side to side seesaw to and fro up and down vacillating

ADVERB

backwards and forwards

Synonyms

WEAK

assiduously completely comprehensively from A to Z from top to bottom fully inside out thoroughly through and through up and down whole hog

ADVERB

exhaustively

Synonyms

STRONGEST

carefully earnestly intensely meticulously

WEAK

completely comprehensively from top to bottom fully inside out totally up and down wholly

ADVERB

intensively

Synonyms

STRONGEST

competently comprehensively effectively exclusively exhaustively extensively fully thoroughly

WEAK

absolutely all the way altogether conclusively en masse finally from A to Z from beginning to end hook, line, and sinker in all in entirety in full in toto inside out on all counts painstakingly perfectly quite solidly to the end to the limit to the max to the nth degree totally ultimately unabridged unanimously unconditionally undividedly up and down utterly wholly with heart and soul without omission

Antonyms

STRONGEST

inadequately incompletely partially

ADVERB

thoroughly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assiduously carefully completely comprehensively conscientiously earnestly efficiently extremely fully highly intensely intensively meticulously painstakingly scrupulously very wholly

WEAK

all exceedingly exceptionally flat out from A to Z from top to bottom hard hugely in detail inside out notably remarkably strikingly sweepingly through and through throughout unremittingly up and down whole hog

Antonyms

STRONGEST

incompletely little partially partly

WEAK

deficiently inadequately inexhaustively superficially

PREPOSITION

through

Synonyms

STRONGEST

about straight

WEAK

by clear for the period from beginning to end in in the middle into past round throughout

Antonyms

WEAK

around

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.

Olympia, his elusive love and sporadic muse, flits in and out of his life as she works her way up the tiers of the art world’s ziggurat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Grutman popped in and out of the space the entire time we were there, rather than letting an assistant and public relations executive oversee the video crew rearranging furniture in his living room.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

I dipped in and out, savoring scenes, reflecting on them, occasionally shedding a tear.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

She remembers "running in and out of people's rooms" and fearing a mother or baby would die because of a lack of appropriate staff.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

The sea shushed in and out through a hole in the reef, but only the biggest waves could break over the top.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

in and out

Example Sentences

Related Words