sleet

noun

\ ˈslēt

Definition of sleet

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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 The 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

sleet

verb

sleeted; sleeting; sleets

Definition of sleet (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to shower sleet

Other Words from sleet More Example Sentences Learn More About sleet

Examples of sleet in a Sentence

Noun The snow turned to sleet and made driving very dangerous.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ware: Curled up in an armchair in front of a blazing hearth, in the drawing room of a remote country house with the wind whistling in the chimney and sleet battering at the windows. — Emily Burack, Town & Country, 13 Sep. 2022 Slept under the stars at Tuolumne Meadows; spent a day at Disneyland, heard Cab Calloway [that night]; went through sleet to Lake Tahoe; went up and down the hills of San Francisco, eating in a delicious Chinese restaurant. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 By Tuesday night, the harsh cold breaks down, with lows in the low to mid-30s and a rain, sleet or snow shower possible. — Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2022 Best College Backpack for Bad Weather Designed specifically to withstand the elements, this backpack from Patagonia is made with nylon with a durable water repellent finish to keep your belongings safe from rain, snow and sleet. — Emma Seymour, Good Housekeeping, 10 June 2022 Rain began to fall, softly at first, then with a force that included occasional sleet. — Sunset Magazine, 28 July 2022 Several breathable yet toasty fleece jackets that have kept me warm and comfortable on many hikes through crazy sleet-one-minute-sunshine-the next weather in the Colorado mountains and late winter runs through my local park. — Andrea Reeves, The Enquirer, 1 June 2022 Shortly before a sleet storm over the winter the Highway Department put in those reflector markers. — Frank Fellone, Arkansas Online, 14 May 2022 As sleet fell on Monday in Cleveland, a handful of dancers paired up, twirling in front of the Chardon Polka Band performing outside of Gordon Green. — Annie Nickoloff, cleveland, 18 Apr. 2022 See More

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