dial in
B2 neutral separable both
In simple words
To join a phone meeting by calling a number, or to carefully adjust something to get it exactly right.
Literal meaning: To use a dial to call into a telephone line.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To join a meeting, broadcast, or service by making a phone call.
"Several team members will be dialling in from the New York office."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To fine-tune or precisely calibrate something to achieve the best result.
"The mechanic needed a few laps to dial in the car's suspension settings."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
In a business context, 'dial in' means to join a conference call. In technical or informal contexts, it means to find or adjust to the optimal setting. The second sense is more figurative and particularly common in sports and performance contexts.
Commonly used with
conference call meeting number frequency settings performance
Forms
Base
dial in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dials in
he/she/it
Past simple
dialed in
yesterday
Past participle
dialed in
have + pp
-ing form
dialing in
continuous
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Synonyms
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