inn
noun
a commercial establishment that provides lodging, food, etc., for the public, especially travelers; small hotel.
inn
1 American
[in]
/ ɪn /
noun
-
inns
plural
-
a commercial establishment that provides lodging, food, etc., for the public, especially travelers; small hotel.
- Synonyms:
- hostelry
-
a tavern.
-
(initial capital letter)
-
any of several buildings in London formerly used as places of residence for students, especially law students.
-
a legal society occupying such a building.
-
Inn
2
American
[in]
/ ɪn /
noun
inn
1
British
/ ɪn /
noun
-
a pub or small hotel providing food and accommodation
-
(formerly, in England) a college or hall of residence for students, esp of law, now only in the names of such institutions as the Inns of Court
Inn
2
British
/ ɪn /
noun
Synonym Usage
See hotel.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of inn
First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English in(n) “house”; akin to Old Norse inni (adverb) “within, in the house”
Explanation
An inn is a place to stay while you're on vacation or on the road. Inns are usually smaller and more charming than hotels, but they serve the same purpose: to give you a place to rest your weary head as you travel. Some inns are more charming versions of hotels, while others use the word inn simply to make them sound more appealing than a motel. The original meaning of inn was "lodging and food for travelers," although today some inns don't have a restaurant or bar attached. If you own or manage an inn, you're an "innkeeper." Inn comes from the Old English inne, "inside or within."
Vocabulary lists containing inn
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The luxury inn, where rooms start at about $1,300 a night, was one of Orange County’s first large-scale oceanfront resorts when it opened in 1984 on a bluff overlooking the Pacific in Dana Point.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
The Anglers Rest, a 17th-century coaching inn in Bamford near Sheffield, doubles as a post office and polling station.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
“Monrovia is not a tourist haven, so guests to our inn will be destination-oriented,” Cain says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
"At the same time, it was essential that we preserved the character, atmosphere and soul of the inn," he added.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
After having been Schmid’s houseguest, Bobby moved to an inn in Pulvermühle, close to Bamberg, located in a valley between Nuremberg and Bayreuth.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Rubbing elbows with shoppers at the Bedford Post Inn were Max Mara USA’s chief executive, Riccardo Broggi, and his wife.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
High rainfall totals have been recorded in the Scottish Highlands, peaking in Cluanie Inn which received 130mm.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
Allsopp's India Pale Ale was released in 70 pubs across the country on Friday, including Burton Bridge Inn and The Roebuck Inn, returning the beer to its original hometown.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
I say I live in the Hampton Inn somewhere in California because we’re basically in a different place every night.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Returning to Florida for his father’s funeral, he rummaged through the BlueBird Inn, discovering old books and letters.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
The little hotels, motels and inns along Cambria’s Moonstone Beach Drive have been drawing travelers for more than 60 years, largely because of scenic, driftwood-strewn Moonstone Beach across the street.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Begun in the 15th century, the 25,000-mile network undulated over the Andes and west coast of South America, replete with stone paths, rope bridges, staircases, fortresses, inns and warehouses to serve relays of royal runners.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025
The fruits, also known as chequers, were once used to make a type of beer, and are thought by some to have given many UK pubs and inns their names.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2024
There are a few cafes and inns, but no car rental shops, gas stations or public transportation.
From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2024
The Sverissons and the Fischers would go on weekend outings to the countryside, staying at friendly inns and basking in the majestic lunarlike countryside of Iceland.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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