within
wɪˈðɪn
Draw one line, then never step over it
The picture A circle drawn on the floor, and you staying on the inside of it. Not one foot crosses the line. WITHIN stays inside the line that was drawn; BEYOND goes past it and out.
Where the picture shows up in within
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inside a stretch of time
The test results will come within three days.
ðə test rɪˈzʌlts wɪl kʌm wɪˈðɪn θriː deɪz
The test results are back in three days or less.
Three days circled on a calendar, and the job finishing inside the circle.
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inside a distance
The station is within walking distance of the office.
ðə ˈsteɪʃn ɪz wɪˈðɪn ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˈdɪstəns əv ði ˈɔːfɪs
The station is close enough to walk to from the office.
A circle drawn on a map, with the station sitting inside it.
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inside a set limit
Please keep the cost within budget.
pliːz kiːp ðə kɔːst wɪˈðɪn ˈbʌdʒɪt
Keep the spending inside the budget.
Water poured only up to the marked line, stopping before it spills.
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inside a group
We can handle this within the team.
wiː kən ˈhændl ðɪs wɪˈðɪn ðə tiːm
We can settle this among ourselves in the team.
People inside one fence passing the work back and forth, nothing leaving.
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inside the body and mind
She felt the fear rise within her.
ʃiː felt ðə fɪr raɪz wɪˈðɪn hɜːr
She felt fear rising up inside her.
Something rising quietly from deep in the chest.
All of it in one picture
WITHIN is the inside of a boundary. When the boundary is time, it becomes a deadline; when it is distance, it becomes an easy walk; when it is money, it becomes the budget; when it is people, it becomes the team; when it is a body, it becomes what happens inside you. That is why within always carries a quiet reassurance: this line will not be crossed.