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
Residents in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are advised to move out of the water, off the beach and away from harbors, marinas, bays and inlets and not go to shore to observe the tsunami.
—
CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
On top of this, the rise in sea level, coastal development and the construction of navigation channels and inlets, have exacerbated the issue.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024
This is regularly reviewed and guidance regarding name changes has shifted in several instances, such as the distinction between the Gulf of California, a name used in the U.S., and the Sea of Cortez, which refers to the inlet that separates the Baja California peninsula from the Mexican mainland.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025
Its convenient location in the heart of the inlet puts you just minutes away from some of the area’s top golf courses, including the hotel’s affiliated courses: Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, True Blue Plantation, and all the courses of the Waccamaw Golf Trail.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inlet
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
On top of this, the rise in sea level, coastal development and the construction of navigation channels and inlets, have exacerbated the issue.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024
This is regularly reviewed and guidance regarding name changes has shifted in several instances, such as the distinction between the Gulf of California, a name used in the U.S., and the Sea of Cortez, which refers to the inlet that separates the Baja California peninsula from the Mexican mainland.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025
Its convenient location in the heart of the inlet puts you just minutes away from some of the area’s top golf courses, including the hotel’s affiliated courses: Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, True Blue Plantation, and all the courses of the Waccamaw Golf Trail.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inlet
Cite this Entry
“Inlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inlet. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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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