inbox

American  

[in-boks] / ˈɪnˌbɒks /

Or in-box

noun

inboxes plural

1. a boxlike tray, basket, or the like, as on a desk, for holding incoming mail, messages, or work.

2. Computers. a folder for receiving and storing incoming emails or text messages.

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inbox British  

/ ˈɪnˌbɒks /

noun

1. (on a computer) a folder in a mailbox in which incoming messages are stored and displayed

2. a US and Canadian name for in-tray

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• inboxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of inbox

First recorded in 1955–60; in ( def. ) + box ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Separately, the company will use deep AI to power a Smart Inbox tool that prioritizes conversations most likely to lead somewhere.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

For now, Google is restricting AI Inbox to “trusted testers” before making it more broadly available in coming months.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

The spending included more than $2 million paid to Campaign Inbox LLC, a digital fundraising firm.

From Reuters • Jul. 16, 2023

Q: For about three months, the same junk emails keep showing up in Inbox despite attempts to block them.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2023

But after years of app hopping, my search for a Google Inbox successor may be finally coming to an end, thanks to a refreshingly minimalistic new Gmail client called Shortwave.

From The Verge • Mar. 24, 2022