inbound

American

[in-bound] / ˈɪnˈbaʊnd /

adjective

inward bound.

inbound ships.

inbound British

/ ˈɪnˌbaʊnd /

adjective

coming in; inward bound

an inbound ship

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of inbound

First recorded in 1890–95; in- ¹ + -bound ²

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:

inbound

The area serves as a bedroom community for employment centers in Fort Myers and Naples, so its main thoroughfares are choked with outbound traffic in the morning and inbound traffic in the afternoon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

“American Flag Blue” paint would fill inbound passengers to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with patriotic palpitations as they looked outside their windows through the clean, crystal-clear water.

From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2026

"We do not anticipate that it will have an immediate impact on inbound tourism," he added.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

As of 1 p.m., the base said the airfield had been closed, and all inbound aircraft were being diverted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026

The next inbound green line train comes, and I step on board.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023