fade in

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To fade from black to a visual image in a film or other visual media.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Fade in and out of a daydream / Our waking life torn at the seam / I am the match / You're the gasoline

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To commence with silence in a song and then slowly increase the volume of the music until the intro of the song is over.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “fade in” mean?

To fade from black to a visual image in a film or other visual media.

Is “fade in” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.