a commercial establishment that provides lodging, food, etc., for the public, especially travelers; small hotel.
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.
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
See hotel.
First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English in(n) “house”; akin to Old Norse inni (adverb) “within, in the house”
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."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"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
During the foot chase in November, Krndija dropped two other Domaine de la Romanée-Conti bottles worth thousands of dollars that he had taken from the inn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
Any other tourist might be scared to stay in a witch-infested inn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
As private-equity funds typically buy stocks inn companies with large amounts of debt, they benefited on both sides of the trade.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 24, 2026
Why is an MI5 agent loitering around the inn?
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
A block away from the former Pfizer building, guests who had been evacuated from the Hampton Inn the day before waited on the street corner Wednesday morning to get inside to retrieve luggage and belongings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Sarah Badrock, manager of The Ship Inn in Trefin, Pembrokeshire was one of the few pubs in Wales that stayed open until 05:00 for the England game.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
About 350 people watched the game at the Brittania Inn in St Austell, Cornwall.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Along with his wife, Weinberg also runs Spruceton Inn set on the West Kill, a tree-encased tributary off Schoharie Creek that gives the surrounding hamlet its name.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
The town’s houses and shops were dark and silent, but the Waystone Inn was full of light.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Where to Stay: Around Hawley and Honesdale—the towns near camps like IHC and Trail’s End—there are plenty of no-frills inns to choose from.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
In the midst of this waits Moonstone Beach, often strewn with driftwood, and Moonstone Beach Drive, which is lined by about a dozen inns and boutique hotels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2025
There are a few cafes and inns, but no car rental shops, gas stations or public transportation.
From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2024
By the 18th century, servants at country houses and inns expected these gifts from guests, and sources at the time complained of the cost.
From National Geographic ● Feb. 26, 2024
As I walked back through the town, past sleeping houses and dark inns, my mood swung from elation to doubt in the space of three brief breaths.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
