inlet

noun

in·​let ˈin-ˌlet How to pronounce inlet (audio)
-lət
1
a
: 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

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 Plump mussels plucked from the Rías Baixas (a series of estuarine inlets in Galicia, Spain) are hand-tinned in an escabeche sauce marinade made with extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, paprika and sea salt. Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023 From inlets covered in neon-green algae, snow-white egrets took flight over ships stacked with thousands of brightly colored containers — imagine a mash-up of Gauguin and Mondrian. John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2023 Roads flood in North Carolina As Ophelia started lashing North Carolina, storm surge flooded coastal areas and inlets in the state overnight with wind gusts of 73 mph hitting Cape Lookout, along the state’s Outer Banks. Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 24 Sep. 2023 Imagine sweeping past scenic coves and inlets of the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise on your way from New York to Providence, Rhode Island ($15), or drifting off to sleep in Boston and waking up to the bright lights of Manhattan four hours later ($20). Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Sep. 2023 The turbo's inlet is tiny, and both the angle and the curvature of its turbine blades are designed for rapid spool-up. John Phillips, Car and Driver, 13 June 2023 Several of these vessels are visible in a small inlet, dotted by two dozen or so boats. Matt Rivers, ABC News, 31 July 2023 Carey said officials are monitoring the beach and nearby waters, such as tidal inlets, that lead into sensitive wetlands. Vanessa Arredondo, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Protection from predators: Make sure to cover any air inlets with wire or a screen to keep predators and other pests out of the coop. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 12 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inlet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from its letting water in

First Known Use

circa 1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of inlet was circa 1576

Dictionary Entries Near inlet

Cite this Entry

“Inlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inlet. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

inlet

noun
in·​let ˈin-ˌlet How to pronounce inlet (audio)
-lət
1
: a small or narrow bay
2
: an opening for intake especially of fluids

Medical Definition

inlet

noun
in·​let ˈin-ˌlet, -lət How to pronounce inlet (audio)
: the upper opening of a bodily cavity
especially : that of the cavity of the true pelvis bounded by the pelvic brim

More from Merriam-Webster on inlet

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