1
: large enough to be walked into
a walk-in closet
2
: arranged so as to be entered directly rather than through a lobby
a walk-in apartment
3
a
: being a person who walks in without an appointment
a walk-in blood donor
b
: of, relating to, or intended for such persons
a walk-in clinic

walk-in

2 of 2

noun

1
: a walk-in refrigerator or cold storage room
2
: an easy election victory
3
: a person who walks in without an appointment

Examples of walk-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Shares could get more of a boost today as day-one walk-in sales of the $2000 iPhone Duo get underway worldwide. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Suites, even at their lowest tier, are oversized and spacious with separate dining areas, stand-alone bar cabinets, walk-in showers, custom closets, and window-side bathtubs with televisions. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
The back room of Flod’s studio is like a butcher’s walk-in fridge, where dozens more masks hang from the ceiling, each more outlandish than the last. — Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The inspector also saw five live roaches, three on the floor of a walk-in cooler, two promenading on a cork board in a back prep area. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for walk-in

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of walk-in was in 1912

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Walk-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walk-in. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

walk-in

adjective
ˌwȯ-ˌkin
1
: large enough to be walked into
a walk-in closet
2
: being or relating to a person who walks in without an appointment

Medical Definition

: providing medical services to ambulatory patients without an appointment
a walk-in clinic
also : being an individual who uses such services

walk-in

2 of 2 noun
: a walk-in patient
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