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Synonyms

inn

1 American  
[in] / ɪn /

noun

  1. a commercial establishment that provides lodging, food, etc., for the public, especially travelers; small hotel.

    Synonyms:
    hostelry

  2. a tavern.

  3. (initial capital letter)

    1. any of several buildings in London formerly used as places of residence for students, especially law students.

    2. a legal society occupying such a building.

Inn 2 American  
[in] / ɪn /

noun

  1. a river in central Europe, flowing from S Switzerland through Austria and Germany into the Danube. 320 miles (515 km) long.

inn 1 British  
/ ɪn /

noun

  1. a pub or small hotel providing food and accommodation

  2. (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

"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
Inn 2 British  
/ ɪn /

noun

  1. a river in central Europe, rising in Switzerland in Graubünden and flowing northeast through Austria and Bavaria to join the River Danube at Passau: forms part of the border between Austria and Germany. Length: 514 km (319 miles)

"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

Related Words

See hotel.

Other Word Forms

  • innless adjective

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”

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.

With hardwood floors, antique wallpaper, and fish-themed knickknacks, it’s the perfect vibe for a lakeside inn.

From Literature

Confused humans scratched their heads and could do nothing but watch as a mysterious branch with a piece of red-and-black fabric that looked remarkably like the pillowcases from the inn waved in the air.

From Literature

We exit the inn, and standing beneath the thatched roof is the scarecrow from the train station.

From Literature

But the men who are familiar with the route assure us this is the way and that on the other side we will find a small inn run by a kind man.

From Literature

All you need to know is that Dunk meets Egg at a roadside inn.

From Salon

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.