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in the air

in the A·ïr
I i

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [in stressed th ee ah-eer]
    • /ɪn stressed ði ˈɑ ɪər/
    • /ɪn ðə eə(r)/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [in stressed th ee ah-eer]
    • /ɪn stressed ði ˈɑ ɪər/

Definitions of in the air words

  • noun in the air a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere. 1
  • noun in the air a stir in the atmosphere; a light breeze. 1
  • noun in the air overhead space; sky: The planes filled the air. 1
  • noun in the air circulation; publication; publicity: to give air to one's theories. 1
  • noun in the air the general character or complexion of anything; appearance: His early work had an air of freshness and originality. 1
  • noun in the air the peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person: There is an air of mystery about him. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of in the air

First appearance:

before 1150
One of the 7% oldest English words
1150-1200; Middle English eir < Old French air < Latin āēr- (accusative āerem) < Greek āer- (stem of āḗr) the lower atmosphere; conflated with (especially for defs 4, 5) French air, Old French aire nature, character < Latin ager field (cf. acre) and ārea threshing floor, clearing, area; and with (for def 7) French air < Italian aria aria

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for In the air

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

in the air popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

in the air usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for in the air

adj in the air

  • probable — likely to occur or prove true: He foresaw a probable business loss. He is the probable writer of the article.
  • unavoidable — unable to be avoided; inevitable: an unavoidable delay.
  • possible — that may or can be, exist, happen, be done, be used, etc.: a disease with no possible cure.
  • looming — a looming appearance, as of something seen indistinctly at a distance or through a fog: the loom of a moraine directly in their path.
  • likely — probably or apparently destined (usually followed by an infinitive): something not likely to happen.

Antonyms for in the air

adj in the air

  • unlikely — not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
  • avoidable — Something that is avoidable can be prevented from happening.
  • later — occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.
  • far — at or to a great distance; a long way off; at or to a remote point: We sailed far ahead of the fleet.
  • future — time that is to be or come hereafter.

See also

Matching words

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