block in: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
IntermediateNeutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “block in” mean?
To physically enclose or surround, trapping or confining someone or something, often with vehicles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To physically enclose or surround, trapping or confining someone or something, often with vehicles.
To schedule a period of time for a specific activity, making it unavailable for other purposes; to prevent someone from leaving or moving by surrounding them; to sketch or outline the main elements of a drawing or plan.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both physical and scheduling meanings are understood and used in both varieties. The scheduling sense is slightly more common in business/professional contexts globally.
Connotations
The physical sense often carries a mild negative connotation of inconvenience or thoughtlessness. The scheduling sense is neutral-to-positive, implying organisation.
Frequency
Broadly similar frequency. The physical sense might be slightly more frequent in everyday British English due to discussions about parking issues.
Grammar
How to Use “block in” in a Sentence
[Subject] + block in + [Object] (e.g., The van blocked me in)[Subject] + block + [Object] + in (e.g., I'll block the afternoon in)get/be blocked in (passive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “block in” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- A badly parked lorry blocked in several cars on our cul-de-sac.
- I've blocked in the bank holiday for a family trip.
American English
- A delivery truck blocked me in my driveway this morning.
- Can you block in some time on Friday for a call?
adjective
British English
- The blocked-in motorist sounded his horn impatiently.
- The blocked-in time is non-negotiable.
American English
- The blocked-in driver left a note on the offending car.
- Her calendar shows blocked-in slots for deep work.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Let's block in two hours for the budget review next Tuesday." (Scheduling)
Academic
The researcher blocked in the key variables before designing the detailed experiment. (Planning/Outlining)
Everyday
"I can't leave—someone has blocked my car in!" (Physical confinement)
Technical
The artist blocked in the basic shapes and shadows before adding detail. (Art/Design)
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “block in”
- Using 'block on' instead of 'block in' (e.g., *'My car was blocked on'*). Incorrect word order: *'I blocked in it'* instead of 'I blocked it in'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. The scheduling sense is fine in professional emails (e.g., 'Let's block in a meeting'). The physical sense is common in everyday speech.
'Block in' schedules or traps. 'Block out' can mean to reserve time similarly, but also to ignore/distract (block out noise) or to sketch roughly (closer to 'block in' in art).
Yes, e.g., 'The security personnel blocked the crowd in the square.' It implies preventing movement from an area.
Yes, especially for the physical sense: 'I was/ got blocked in.' For scheduling, the active voice is more common.
To physically enclose or surround, trapping or confining someone or something, often with vehicles.
Block in: in British English it is pronounced /blɒk ɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /blɑk ɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a child's building BLOCK placed IN a box, trapping it. The block is 'blocked in'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (scheduling sense: you put time in a blocked container); SPACE IS A CONTAINER (physical sense).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'block in' LEAST appropriate?