walk-in

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwȯk-ˌin 

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

Adjective

The pro move is to take your slice through the walk-in cooler to the pinball bar. —Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2025

Dough on the food preparation table was left unattended and uncovered during active preparation, and two bags of onions were stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler. —Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Noun

Therefore, the vaccine may not be available via the standard walk-in process of previous years. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

Investigators saw a large pot of moldy menudo soup in a walk-in cooler, according to the report. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for walk-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin

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

walk-in

1 of 2 adjective

ˈwȯk-ˌin 

: 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