fade in
B2 neutral inseparable both
In simple words
To slowly appear on screen or become louder, starting from nothing.
Literal meaning: To move inward while becoming less distinct.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
(Film/audio) To gradually increase an image's brightness or a sound's volume from silence or darkness to full strength.
"The director faded in on a wide shot of the empty city at dawn."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
neutral
To gradually become noticeable or present in a situation.
"The new student slowly faded in to the social group over the first semester."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
A technical term in film and audio editing. The transitive form ('fade the music in') is also used. In everyday speech, can be used figuratively to describe something or someone gradually becoming present or noticeable.
Commonly used with
scene music sound image credits screen
Forms
Base
fade in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fades in
he/she/it
Past simple
faded in
yesterday
Past participle
faded in
have + pp
-ing form
fading in
continuous
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