The concert will begin

Ck1   Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:53 pm GMT
The concert will begin IN fifteen minutes
The concert will begin WITHIN fifteen minutes

Are the same or not?
Jérémy   Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:14 pm GMT
"The concert will begin in 15 minutes" means what it means: in 15 minutes, not more, not less (in theory).

"The concert will begin within 15 minutes" means it will begin at most in 15 minutes but may begin earlier.

Hope I'm not wrong.
Travis   Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:27 pm GMT
No, you're right there.
furrykef   Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:33 pm GMT
Jeremy is correct, although somebody might say "within 15 minutes" and intend to mean "in 15 minutes".
M56   Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:58 pm GMT
Consider:

You will repay the loan within five years.
You will repay the loan in five years.


With the former option, I should get my money back sooner than with the latter option.