internally
gb/ɪntˈɚnəli/ us/ɪntˈɚnəli/
B2
English
~ 7100
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
inside a body or object
Happening inside a body or thing, not on the outside.
Usage pattern:
[something] happens internally
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "internally" when they just mean "inside" a room or building (e.g., *"I will stay internally"*). Use "indoors" or "inside" for locations in a house or building, and "internally" mainly for inside bodies, objects, systems, or organizations.
Synonyms
inside (More general and often used with movement or position; less specific about medical or mechanical contexts.)
|
within (More formal; often used in written or technical descriptions of processes inside an object or system.)
Antonyms
externally (Describes something happening on the outside of a body or object.)
|
outside (General everyday opposite, usually about location on or beyond the outer surface.)
Collocations
bleeding internally
|injured internally
|damaged internally
|treated internally
|functions internally
Themes
health
|science
|technology
|body
Examples
- The doctors were worried he might be bleeding internally after the car accident.
- The machine still runs, but the motor is damaged internally.
- This medicine works internally to reduce inflammation.
- The engineer explained that the device cools itself internally, without any visible fan.
- Although the phone looks fine, the screen may have cracked internally.
Learner examples
- After the fall, she was hurt internally.
- This drug works internally, so you cannot see its effects on the skin.
- The engine is broken internally and needs repair.
- The watch was damaged internally when it fell in the water.
- He looked OK, but he was bleeding internally.
adverb
B2
property
2
within one organization or country
Happening inside one company, group, or country, without help from outside.
Usage pattern:
to handle [something] internally
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"inside the company"* in every case. While correct, in business and formal writing "internally" is more natural for decisions, policies, and processes (e.g., "The issue will be reviewed internally").
Synonyms
in-house (Common in business; slightly more informal and specifically about work done within a company.)
|
domestically (Used mainly for actions within a country, not an organization.)
Antonyms
externally (Means using people, services, or pressure from outside the organization or country.)
|
outsourced (Business-focused opposite; work is given to an outside company or group.)
Collocations
handled internally
|resolved internally
|managed internally
|decided internally
|promoted internally
Themes
business
|politics
|work
Examples
- The company decided to handle the complaint internally rather than involve lawyers.
- Most management positions are filled internally before being advertised to the public.
- The dispute was resolved internally after several rounds of meetings.
- The government says it will deal with the issue internally, without international support.
- All requests are first reviewed internally by the compliance team.
Learner examples
- The problem was solved internally by the team.
- They chose to manage the project internally.
- This job was given internally to a worker who was already there.
- The company wants to grow internally, not by buying other companies.
- The conflict was fixed internally, so no one outside knew about it.
adverb
C1
property
3
inside the mind or feelings
Happening inside your mind or feelings, not shown on the outside.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels [something] internally
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *"in my inside"* or *"in my interior"* to talk about private feelings. Use "inside" or "internally" instead, e.g., "Inside, I felt terrible" or "Internally, I felt terrible."
Synonyms
privately (Stresses that thoughts or feelings are not shared with others; slightly broader than mental/emotional only.)
|
inside (Often used in speech like "inside, I was upset"; a little more informal and emotional.)
Antonyms
outwardly (Focuses on what other people can see on the outside.)
|
openly (Stresses that feelings are expressed and visible to others.)
Collocations
internally angry
|internally conflicted
|internally he knew
|internally she felt
|struggling internally
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Internally, she was furious, but she stayed calm and polite.
- He agreed to the plan, but internally he had serious doubts.
- They seemed relaxed, but internally they were very nervous about the results.
- Internally, he blamed himself for what had happened.
- She was smiling, but internally she felt completely exhausted.
Learner examples
- Internally, I was very angry.
- He looks happy, but internally he is sad.
- She said yes, but internally she did not want to go.
- Internally, they were afraid of losing the game.
- He is strong externally, but internally he feels weak.
adverb
technical
C1
property
4
inside a system, not visible
Working inside a system or process, in a way that normal users or other systems cannot see.
Usage pattern:
[something] is processed internally
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical sense with the business sense of "internally" for companies. In computing, "internally" usually means inside a program, system, or device, not inside an organization.
Synonyms
under the hood (Informal technical phrase meaning hidden inside the system’s workings.)
|
behind the scenes (Everyday phrase; stresses that something happens where users or the public cannot see it.)
Antonyms
externally (Means handled outside the system, often by another service or visible interface.)
|
publicly (In software, can mean visible in an interface or API, not hidden inside the implementation.)
Collocations
handled internally by the system
|stored internally
|processed internally
|implemented internally
|managed internally
Themes
technology
|engineering
Examples
- The data is encrypted internally before it is sent to the server.
- The application stores user preferences internally rather than in a separate file.
- These details are handled internally by the framework and do not require any extra code.
- The error is logged internally and never shown to the end user.
- Internally, the system uses several microservices, but this is hidden from clients.
Learner examples
- The software saves this information internally.
- Your password is stored internally by the system.
- These steps are done internally, so users do not see them.
- The website sends the data internally to another part of the system.
- The app checks your login internally every time you open it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
internally
IPA
GB/ɪntˈɚnəli/
US/ɪntˈɚnəli/
Syllables & stress
in - tern - ally (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tern)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: internally
- Plural: internallies
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.