sign in
write your name or enter a password to enter a place or website
What does "sign in" mean?
Examples
- All visitors must sign in at reception before entering the building.
- Have you signed in to your account yet? I can't see you on the system.
- She signed in with her Google credentials and started working immediately.
How to use it
The most common pattern — used alone when the context already makes the location or system clear.
Please sign in before the session begins.
Use 'at' to say where you sign in, especially for physical locations like a desk or gate.
All contractors must sign in at the front desk when they arrive.
Use 'to' to say which system, account, or platform you are accessing.
You need to sign in to your account to view your order history.
Use 'with' to say what you use to sign in, such as an email address, password, or third-party account.
You can sign in with your Google account if you prefer.
Use 'as' to indicate the category or role you are signing in under.
If you don't have an account yet, you can sign in as a guest.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Sign up' is for creating a new account or record for the first time. 'Sign in' is for returning users who already have an account. Using the wrong one suggests you are a new user when you are actually an existing one, or vice versa.
Use 'sign in at' for physical places and 'sign in to' for systems or accounts. Mixing these up, or using 'in' instead of 'in to', sounds unnatural.
'Sign in' does not take a direct object in this sense — the person signing in is always the subject. If you want to say you helped someone else sign in, that is a different construction not covered here.
Usage
Sign in works in both physical settings (e.g. a workplace reception) and digital settings (e.g. a website or app). In digital contexts, it is nearly identical to 'log in', but 'sign in' is slightly more common in everyday spoken English and on major tech platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'sign in' and 'log in'?
In digital contexts, they mean almost the same thing and you can usually use either one. However, 'sign in' is also used in physical situations, like writing your name at a reception desk, while 'log in' is almost always digital. Many major tech platforms, including Google and Microsoft, use 'sign in' on their buttons and interfaces.
Do I write 'sign in to' or 'sign into' as one word?
It is best to write it as two words: 'sign in to'. The phrasal verb is 'sign in', and 'to' is the preposition that connects it to the system or account. Writing 'into' as one word can look like you are combining 'in' and 'to' incorrectly, so keeping them separate is the cleaner choice.
Can I use 'sign in' for both websites and physical places?
Yes, and this is one thing that makes 'sign in' useful. You can sign in at a hospital, a school, or an office building by writing your name on a list, and you can also sign in to an app or website by entering your credentials. The context usually makes the meaning clear.
Is 'sign in' used in the same way in British and American English?
Yes, it is used in the same way in both varieties. There are no significant regional differences in meaning or usage for this phrasal verb. Both British and American speakers use it in workplace and digital contexts.
Can 'sign in' describe something that is already done, like a state?
You can use it to describe a completed action, for example 'I'm signed in' meaning you have already completed the process and are now inside the system or building. This is common in everyday speech, especially in digital contexts where a platform may ask 'Stay signed in?'.
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