: 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
Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
This could lead to a mix of snow, sleet and ice west of I‑65 and north of I‑40, with a 20–50% chance of light accumulation, wrote the weather service.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Dec. 2025
Eventually, snow and sleet will change over to a cold rain in many Baltimore metro neighborhoods.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
The fast-moving snowstorm is expected to bring snow, along with a mix of sleet, to Kansas, southern Nebraska and much of the East Coast, including Pennsylvania, New York, northern New Jersey and New England between Monday and Tuesday, according to AccuWeather.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
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Noun
Hazardous conditions are possible Friday in the foothills and mountains, where sleet and freezing rain are included in the forecast.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
This could lead to a mix of snow, sleet and ice west of I‑65 and north of I‑40, with a 20–50% chance of light accumulation, wrote the weather service.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Dec. 2025
Eventually, snow and sleet will change over to a cold rain in many Baltimore metro neighborhoods.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
The fast-moving snowstorm is expected to bring snow, along with a mix of sleet, to Kansas, southern Nebraska and much of the East Coast, including Pennsylvania, New York, northern New Jersey and New England between Monday and Tuesday, according to AccuWeather.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 Dec. 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 6 Dec. 2025.
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