: rain that freezes or partly freezes as it falls from the sky
Concerned that ice pellets—also known as sleet—were a larger hazard than previously thought, the Federal Aviation Administration in late 2005 adopted strict limits on planes taking off in such icy conditions.—
Susan Carey and Andy Pasztor
Susan Carey and Andy PasztorThe wind blew bitterly cold, and the boughs of the old tree crackled under falling sleet.—Harriet Jacobs
compare freezing rain, hail entry 1, snow entry 1
Harriet JacobsExamples of sleet in a Sentence
Noun
The snow turned to sleet and made driving very dangerous.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Additional snow and sleet accumulations between one and three inches are likely, as well as a light glaze of ice south of Interstate 40 and closer to the Tennessee/Alabama state line.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The weather service has issued warnings for freezing temperatures and possible wintry precipitation, including snow and sleet.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Meteorologist Tyler Roys told Newsweek that a stretch from upstate New York through Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern Maine is expected to see poor conditions Saturday morning due to a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
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Noun
The weather service's forecast from late Saturday afternoon indicated the region may receive snow and sleet accumulations between 5 and 10 inches from Sunday morning to Monday night.
—Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Additional snow and sleet accumulations between one and three inches are likely, as well as a light glaze of ice south of Interstate 40 and closer to the Tennessee/Alabama state line.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The weather service has issued warnings for freezing temperatures and possible wintry precipitation, including snow and sleet.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Meteorologist Tyler Roys told Newsweek that a stretch from upstate New York through Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern Maine is expected to see poor conditions Saturday morning due to a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
Cite this Entry
“Sleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleet. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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