inlet

noun

in·let | \ ˈin-ˌlet

, -lət\

Definition of inlet

1a : a bay or recess in the shore of a sea, lake, or river also : creek

b : a narrow water passage between peninsulas or through a barrier island leading to a bay or lagoon

2 : a way of entering especially : an opening for intake

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about inlet

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Synonyms for inlet

Synonyms

arm, bay, bight, cove, creek [chiefly British], embayment, estuary, firth, fjord (also fiord), gulf, loch [Scottish]

Examples of inlet in a Sentence

The coast is dotted with tiny inlets. went fishing in the quiet inlets of the coast

Recent Examples on the Web

On the Outer Banks, new inlets could form while others are widened and deepened. — Ben Finley, Fox News, "AP Explains: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes," 12 Sep. 2018 And in the Outer Banks, there are only three inlets, creating a bottleneck effect holding water upstream for an extended period of time. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, "Hurricane Florence could bring life-threatening floods, conditions to areas away from coastline as well," 13 Sep. 2018 Sand along that section of coastline naturally migrates from north to south, which explains why the beach is at its widest near the jetty on the north side of the Ocean City inlet. — Scott Dance, Washington Post, "A wider, deeper beach awaits Ocean City vacationers, but is it safe?," 1 June 2018 In North Carolina particularly, the barrier islands of the Outer Banks only leave a few inlets for water to be let out once the heavy rainfall and storm surges push water inland – further intensifying the impact of flooding in the area, Cline said. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, "Hurricane Florence could bring catastrophic storm surges: What are they, and how can you prepare?," 13 Sep. 2018 The winds of a hurricane literally blow water onshore, making beaches, inlets, and rivers crest much higher than usual. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "Hurricane Florence catastrophic flooding, rescues, and deaths: what we know," 14 Sep. 2018 On the Outer Banks, new inlets could form while others are widened and deepened. — Ben Finley, Fox News, "AP Explains: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes," 12 Sep. 2018 On the Outer Banks, new inlets could form while others are widened and deepened. — Ben Finley, The Seattle Times, "AP Explains: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes," 11 Sep. 2018 If Fila, the Italian sportswear behemoth is the river, then Fila Fjord, under the creative direction of Andersen, is the inlet: a gentler, meditative place to reflect on athleisure and luxury. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Introducing Fila Fjord, a New Brand Helmed by Astrid Andersen," 4 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inlet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.