1 A2 neutral
To enter a room or building by walking.
"She walked in just as they were finishing their meeting."
inseparable
walk in
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To enter a room or building by walking.
In plain English
To go into a place by walking through the door.
What does "walk in" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 informal
To arrive somewhere, especially unexpectedly or casually.
"He walked in at midnight looking as if nothing had happened."
inseparable
3 B1 neutral
To use a service or visit a place without a prior appointment.
"You don't need to book — you can just walk in and someone will help you."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To walk into a place — entirely transparent.
Actually means
To go into a place by walking through the door.
Usage tip
Very common and transparent. Often used in narrative descriptions of someone's arrival. 'Walk-in' (adjective/noun) is also used for services that don't require an appointment (e.g., 'walk-in clinic').
Words that pair with "walk in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
door room office building without knocking uninvited
How to conjugate "walk in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
walk in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
walks in
he/she/it
Past simple
walked in
yesterday
Past participle
walked in
have + pp
-ing form
walking in
continuous
Hear "walk in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "walk in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "walk in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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