Inlet
noun /ˈɪnlɛt/ — A narrow body of water penetrating the land — the sea reaching inland.
Definition
A small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river; a narrow indentation in the coastline where water extends into the land.
Beyond the definition
An inlet is the sea's curiosity — it reaches inland, as if wanting to see what's there. The word carries the sense of intrusion, of water finding a way in where you might not have expected it.
Origin & history
From in + let (to allow in). The place where something is let in — the opening that allows entry. Geography as permission.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The kayakers found an inlet they hadn't known about and paddled slowly into its silence.
The inlet at high tide was deep enough to hide in; at low tide it was all mud and possibility.
She loved inlets — the sense of water pushing its way inland, persistent and quiet.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Inlet” when the meaning fits your context: A small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river; a narrow indentation in the coastline where water extends into the land.
Synonyms
Antonyms
peninsula, headland, cape
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Illustrative example
Otters in calm water
Sea otters float close together on the surface of calm, blue water within a narrow, sheltered space.
The calm water trapped by the surrounding land illustrates the concept of an inlet, where the sea or lake extends into a protected space.
Image credit: Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA · CC BY 2.0 (license)
Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with a fitted crop.
Questions about this word
What does "Inlet" mean?
Inlet is noun meaning: A narrow body of water penetrating the land — the sea reaching inland.. A small arm of the sea, a lake, or a river; a narrow indentation in the coastline where water extends into the land.
Where does the word "Inlet" come from?
From in + let (to allow in). The place where something is let in — the opening that allows entry. Geography as permission.