What does "inlet" mean?
A body of water let into a coast, such as a bay, cove, fjord or estuary.
Inlet
/ˈɪnlət/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A body of water let into a coast, such as a bay, cove, fjord or estuary.
- Grammar: inlet is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: intake, access, adit, air intake.
- Useful contrasts: emptier, cape, drain.
- Usage evidence: Beyond his small fleet of ships anchored safely past the shallow mud flats, the captain could just make out a row of low hills in the offing, but even with binoculars he could not see beyond the horizon to the mighty offshore wind turbines which he had sailed by on his approach to the inlet.
How to use "inlet"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "inlet" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "inlet" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "inlet" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "inlet" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "inlet" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "intake" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "inlet", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A body of water let into a coast, such as a bay, cove, fjord or estuary.
- 2 an opening through which fluid is admitted to a tube or container wordnet
- 3 A passage that leads into a cavity.
"1748. David Hume, An enquiry concerning human understanding. In: L. A. SELBY-BIGGE, M. A. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. 2. ed. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 15. by opening this new inlet for sensations, you also open an inlet for the ideas;"
- 4 an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands) wordnet
Verb
- 1 To let in; admit. transitive
- 2 To insert; inlay. transitive
"The team said that many of the bones unearthed were the remains of children, leading them to believe the practice of deforming skulls “may have been inlet and dangerous.”"
- 3 To carve the wooden stock of a firearm so as to position the metal components in it.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Beyond his small fleet of ships anchored safely past the shallow mud flats, the captain could just make out a row of low hills in the offing, but even with binoculars he could not see beyond the horizon to the mighty offshore wind turbines which he had sailed by on his approach to the inlet."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "inlet"?
Common synonyms include: intake, access, adit, air intake, air lock, aisle.
How do you use "inlet" in a sentence?
Beyond his small fleet of ships anchored safely past the shallow mud flats, the captain could just make out a row of low hills in the offing, but even with binoculars he could not see beyond the horizon to the mighty offshore wind turbines which he had sailed by on his approach to the inlet.
How do you pronounce "inlet"?
Pronounced /ˈɪnlət/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English inlāte (“inlet, entrance”), from inleten (“to let in”), equivalent to in- + let. Compare Low German inlat (“inlet”), German Einlass (“inlet, entrance”).
Etymology 2
From Middle English inleten, equivalent to in- + let. Cognate with Dutch inlaten (“to let in, admit”), Low German inlaten (“to let in”), German einlassen (“to admit, let in”), Swedish inlåta (“to enter, engage”).