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Glite Dictionary
to edge in

to edge in

5 5.3
To move slowly and carefully into a small space or group
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈɛdʒ ɪn/
translation icon : meterse
  • He managed to edge in through the narrow gap between the parked cars.
  • a competitive edge in

Examples

  • The thought comforted her as she edged in that direction.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Slowly, he edges in and presses his face into the molecules of the wood.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • So what I'm doing here is just applying this just a little, little by little, edging it in closer and closer to my inner corner.

  • As she approached the crowd, she carefully edged in to find a better view of the stage.

  • The cat edged in slowly, trying not to disturb the sleeping dog.

Synonyms

to edge
vsto edge in
10 3.9

To move slowly and carefully in a particular direction

is specific to entering a space rather than any general direction
to inch forward
vsto edge in
4 3.4

To move forward very slowly by a short distance

involves pushing or maneuvering into a space rather than simple forward steps
to edge up
vsto edge in
5.6

Move slowly and carefully forward to get closer in a crowd

emphasizes onward movement rather than forward

Antonyms

to withdraw
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

to retreat
235 4.0

To move back from a place or plan to avoid danger

How Gradually

to worm
3 4.6
to edge in
5 5.3
slide
5 1.0

Surface Forms

edge in infinitive
edged in past
edged in past participle
edging in present participle
edges in third person singular

Morphology

edge + in

The verb 'edge' (to move cautiously a little at a time) combined with the directional particle 'in' yields a directly compositional meaning: to move gradually or carefully into a space. This simple motion verb + particle pattern is common in English (and paralleled in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb edge in comes from the image of someone using the thin edge of their body to slip in between people or into a small space, moving slowly and carefully. So, it now means 'to move gradually into a place' or 'to get a few words into a conversation'.