inbox
/ˈɪnbɒks/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪnbɑːks/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈin-ˌbäks/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɪn.bɒks/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪn.bɑːks/ (ame, ipa)
inbox — noun
- inboxsingular
- inboxesplural
1. a digital folder found on a computer, phone, or tablet that gathers every new em
a digital folder found on a computer, phone, or tablet that gathers every new email, direct message, or other communication you receive and shows them in one place
Nellie checked her inbox every morning before starting work.
check + [possessive] inbox
The spam filter caught the suspicious email before it ever reached Amihan's inbox.
reach + [possessive] inbox
Christopher's inbox was overflowing with replies after he posted the notice online.
When Vikram opened his email account, the inbox contained a welcome message from the service.
Élise deleted a hundred old messages from her work inbox to free up storage space.
- mailbox
more common for postal mail; rarely used for digital messages outside of email server contexts
- outbox
holds sent or outgoing messages rather than received ones
文法句型
usually singular
possessive determiner + inbox
用法筆記
Frequently used with possessive determiners (my inbox, your inbox, her inbox). The verb 'check' is a very common collocation across both digital and physical senses.
常見錯誤
2. a tray or shallow container kept on a desk, where incoming letters, reports, or
a tray or shallow container kept on a desk, where incoming letters, reports, or other papers are placed until someone deals with them
The secretary placed the signed contracts into the manager's inbox on his desk.
place [something] into + [possessive] inbox
Adisa's inbox was piled so high with paperwork that envelopes slid off onto the floor.
By Friday, Yumi had cleared her entire inbox and filed every document in place.
Defne found a handwritten note on top of her inbox under a stack of bills.
Tamar sorted the envelopes from her inbox into three piles based on urgency.
- out-tray
holds documents that have been processed and are ready to be sent out
文法句型
usually singular
possessive determiner + inbox
用法筆記
This physical sense is now much less common in daily language than the digital sense (sense 1). It is mostly encountered in office contexts or descriptions of older workplace setups.
inbox — verb
- inboxpresent simple I / you / we / they
- inboxes3rd person singular
- inboxing-ing form
- inboxedpast simple
1. to send a private, one-to-one message to another user on a social media platform
to send a private, one-to-one message to another user on a social media platform or messaging app, instead of posting something publicly
Felipe inboxed his coworker a quick question about the project deadline.
inbox + [person] + [direct object]
Alessia decided to inbox the author rather than leave a public comment on the post.
inbox [someone] instead of [alternative]
Soraya inboxed the event organisers to ask whether tickets were still available.
Please inbox the support team with any concerns, not on the public forum.
A fan inboxed the photographer to find out how much a portrait session would cost.
- post
to share something publicly rather than sending it privately
文法句型
inbox + [person]
inbox + [person] + [thing]
inbox + [person] + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Most common on platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Discord. Considered informal; in formal or professional writing, alternatives such as 'send a direct message' or 'email' are preferred.