in for

phrase

: certain to experience
in for a rude awakening

Examples of in for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On fourth-and-1 from the Indiana 38, Sayin launched a play-action pass toward the end zone, and Smith leaped over everyone else to haul it in for a 38-yard touchdown that put Ohio State up 19-7. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Instead of bringing Macdonald’s contemporaries in for original sit-downs, Apatow goes to the clips from countless podcasts and video shows in which those contemporaries reflected on and celebrated Macdonald. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 The 18 dates announced at the start of last week has now ballooned to 26, and stretches into November 2027, with additional shows locked in for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026 The stand-in for Barton Cottage, a single-room house in southern Devon more suited to livestock than people, didn’t come quite so ready-made — or with a roof. — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in for

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in for was in 1835

Rhymes for in for

See All Rhymes for in for

Browse Nearby Words

infomercial
in for
in for a penny, in for a pound
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20for. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All