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
Today, Crater Lake National Park boasts the deepest lake in the country, at 1,943 feet, and one of the cleanest too, as there are no inlets or outlets to allow for contamination.
—
Josh Laskin,
Travel + Leisure,
3 July 2026
Marine life concentrates most densely in the shallowest waters of this continental shelf, 100 feet deep or less, in reefs, lagoons, and coastal inlets where a person can swim and scuba dive without specialized gear.
—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
The county hopes to save on sand costs with the bypass and offer a sustainable beach-compatible sand source for shorelines south of the inlet.
—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Use a wet/dry vacuum with a piece of mesh over the inlet to suck them up.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inlet
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Josh Laskin,
Travel + Leisure,
3 July 2026
Marine life concentrates most densely in the shallowest waters of this continental shelf, 100 feet deep or less, in reefs, lagoons, and coastal inlets where a person can swim and scuba dive without specialized gear.
—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
The county hopes to save on sand costs with the bypass and offer a sustainable beach-compatible sand source for shorelines south of the inlet.
—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Use a wet/dry vacuum with a piece of mesh over the inlet to suck them up.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inlet
Cite this Entry
“Inlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inlet. Accessed 6 Jul. 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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