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
Synonyms
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
Waln was discovered in the woods of the recreation area, a small park off an inlet of Percy Priest Lake.
—
Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 13 Dec. 2024
Coho and especially Chinook salmon stocks spiked this year in Vancouver Island and its inlets, according to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, after years of downturn.
—Jules Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2024
An intricate thread of marshy lakes and inlets at the foothills of the highest coastal mountain range in the world, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, serves as a gateway to some of the country’s most impressive naturescapes.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024
What is reverse storm surge? Storm surge happens as a tropical storm or hurricane pushes water toward the coast, triggering catastrophic flooding along the shore, and in bays and inlets.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024
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.
Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 13 Dec. 2024
Coho and especially Chinook salmon stocks spiked this year in Vancouver Island and its inlets, according to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, after years of downturn.
—Jules Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2024
An intricate thread of marshy lakes and inlets at the foothills of the highest coastal mountain range in the world, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, serves as a gateway to some of the country’s most impressive naturescapes.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024
What is reverse storm surge? Storm surge happens as a tropical storm or hurricane pushes water toward the coast, triggering catastrophic flooding along the shore, and in bays and inlets.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inlet
Dictionary Entries Near inlet
Cite this Entry
“Inlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inlet. Accessed 2 Jan. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share