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Glite Dictionary
in person

in person

271 1.6
To be present at a place rather than by phone or online
  • idiom
  • /ɪn ˈpɜrsən/
translation icon : en persona
  • The conference is much better when you can participate in person instead of online.
  • meet in person
  • attend in person
  • interview in person

And then I didn't meet him in person until a year later.

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Examples

  • Good to meet you in person.

    Now Is Good (2012)

  • I thought it would be better to tell her in person than over the phone.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Then he went there in person and he got in.

  • And if you can see these in person, I wish you could.

  • Of course, people can stay longer and talk in person, but this was wonderful.

  • Like I saw actual people in person the other week, like friends.

  • I went to the market in person.

    Anna Karenina (2012)

  • So I'll be there in person and we want you there in person.

  • Make every attempt to tell patients in person except in exceptional circumstances.

    Academic text (1998)

  • We've all lacked in person contact with friends and with peers.

Synonyms

personally
vsin person
548 2.8

Someone does it themselves rather than using others

focuses on physical presence in a location rather than manner of involvement
face to face
vsin person
130 2.3

In the same place as someone and looking at them directly

refers to being physically present in a place without needing eye contact
in the flesh
vsin person
34 4.2

Seeing someone face to face rather than in a photo or on TV

means being physically present in a place, not only meeting or seeing someone
in-person
vsin person
15 2.7

People are in the same place instead of online

covers physical presence in a place more broadly than event contexts
person-to-person
vsin person
11 3.9

Two people meet and talk directly, without other people or devices

applies to physical presence in a place, not specifically one-to-one exchange
face-to-face
vsin person
7 2.8

Happens when people sit or stand opposite each other in the same place

is about general physical presence rather than requiring mutual facing

Antonyms

virtually
  • Texting
9 3.5

Online using a computer or video, not in person

How Present

in person
271 1.6
online
  • Texting
∞ 1.0
on the phone
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

in person positive

Morphology

in + person

The meaning 'physically present' is directly and transparently built from 'in' (indicating location) + 'person' (a human), so a learner who knows both words can readily infer being located with the person rather than remotely. This locative composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and follows standard English usage, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

In person comes from the simple image of a real person being in the same place as you, not on the phone or online. That's why In person means 'physically present'.