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log in

/lɒɡ ɪn/
IELTSAcademic
verb
  1. 1.

    To enter a computer system, website, or app by typing your username and password, or another sign-in method.

    • Please log in to your account.
    • I can't log in on my phone.
    • You must log in before you continue.
  2. 2.

    To record an event, time, or amount in a system or logbook.

    • The nurse logged in the patient's details.
    • He logged in the delivery at 3 p.m.
    • Please log in your hours by Friday.

Adinary Nuance

Log in is the action of entering a system with your details. It is different from sign in, which is very close and often interchangeable in modern use. Log on is also similar, but it can sound a little more technical or older in some contexts. In everyday English, log in is the most common choice for websites and apps.

In other languages

Vietnamese
đăng nhập
Spanish
iniciar sesión
Chinese
登录
Japanese
ログインする
Korean
로그인하다

Etymology

Log in came into English in the computer age, built from the older phrase log, meaning record information, and in, meaning enter a system. The second sense comes from older record-keeping language.

Common phrases

log in to your accountlog in with Googlelog in credentialslog in details

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is "log in" the same as "sign in"?
Yes, in most cases. Both mean entering a system with your details.
Do I say "log in to" or "log into"?
Both are used, but "log in to" is more common in careful writing.
Is "log in" formal or informal?
It is neutral. You can use it in everyday, business, and school contexts.
Can "log in" be one word?
As a verb phrase, it is usually two words. The noun is often written as "login".