1
a
: a bay or recess in the shore of a sea, lake, or river
also : creek
b
: a narrow water passage between peninsulas or through a barrier island leading to a bay or lagoon
2
: a way of entering
especially : an opening for intake
Examples of inlet in a Sentence
The coast is dotted with tiny inlets. went fishing in the quiet inlets of the coast
Recent Examples on the Web
This includes the machine itself, a water inlet, and drain kit. —
Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 16 Apr. 2026 Emerald Bay is an inlet of Tahoe noted for its steep trails and picturesque views of the lake. —Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026 Shoot through natural waterslides, wade in shallow pools, or swim in the shockingly deep inlets. —Joie Probst, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026 The inlet is about a 195-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh. —Mark Price april 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inlet
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.
Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 16 Apr. 2026 Emerald Bay is an inlet of Tahoe noted for its steep trails and picturesque views of the lake. —Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026 Shoot through natural waterslides, wade in shallow pools, or swim in the shockingly deep inlets. —Joie Probst, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026 The inlet is about a 195-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh. —Mark Price april 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inlet
Cite this Entry
“Inlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/inlet. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inlet
noun
in·let ˈin-ˌlet 
-lət
1
: a small or narrow bay
2
: an opening for intake especially of fluids
Medical Definition
inlet
noun
in·let ˈin-ˌlet, -lət
: the upper opening of a bodily cavity
especially : that of the cavity of the true pelvis bounded by the pelvic brim
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