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Within

Within is a preposition.

Within: space​

Within means ‘inside or not further than a particular area or space’:

  • People who live within the city pay higher local taxes than people who live just outside the city. (= the people who live no further than the city boundary or limits)
  • We’ve always lived within ten miles of the coast. We love the sea. (We’ve always lived no further than ten miles from the coast.)

Within: time​

We can use within to refer to time:

  • I’ve booked train tickets on the Internet. They should arrive within three days. (no later than three days from now)
  • I’ve noticed her change within a very short time.
warning

Within does not mean the same as in. Within stresses that something is not further than a particular area or space or not later than a particular time:

  • Your shirt is in the drawer.
  • Not: Your shirt is within the drawer.
  • I always have tea in the afternoon.
  • Not: I always have tea within the afternoon.