: 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
Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
Odds for a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow in Central Texas have increased, with a 30% chance of at least a half-inch of snow between Wednesday night and Thursday night, according to the weather service.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The heaviest snow will continue overnight, and some sleet may also fall.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Weather Service: More snow pushing into Nashville from the west
Warmer conditions have reached the southern portion of Middle Tennessee, bringing along sleet and light freezing rain to areas along I-40 and east of I-65, reported the National Weather Service.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
This system continuously distributes power to all 4 wheels, enhancing traction and stability in various driving conditions like rain, snow, sleet, or on uneven terrain.
—Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
Odds for a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow in Central Texas have increased, with a 30% chance of at least a half-inch of snow between Wednesday night and Thursday night, according to the weather service.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The heaviest snow will continue overnight, and some sleet may also fall.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Weather Service: More snow pushing into Nashville from the west
Warmer conditions have reached the southern portion of Middle Tennessee, bringing along sleet and light freezing rain to areas along I-40 and east of I-65, reported the National Weather Service.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 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 14 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share