walk-in
Americanadjective
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of or relating to persons who walk into a place from the street, especially irregularly or without an appointment.
walk-in customers; walk-in sales; a walk-in patient.
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large enough to be walked into.
a walk-in kitchen.
noun
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a person, as a customer, patient, or interviewee, who arrives without an appointment.
Many of the clinic's patients are walk-ins who suddenly need help.
-
something large enough to be walked into, as a closet.
-
an assured victory in an election or other contest.
adjective
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(of a cupboard) large enough to allow a person to enter and move about in
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(of a building or apartment) located so as to admit of direct access from the street
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(of a flat or house) in a suitable condition for immediate occupation
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of walk-in
First recorded in 1925–30; adj., noun use of verb phrase walk in
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 Scottish government plans to establish 30 walk-in clinics to ease pressures on GP surgeries.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Figures are available for six walk-in clinics and can be viewed in the chart below.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The primary suite is completed by two huge walk-in closets, one of which is complete with a built-in vanity, while both feature light-up shelving.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
In recent days, social media has been filled with videos of Europeans gawking at the staples of suburban American life—a two-car garage, a walk-in closet, a second refrigerator.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
He opened the door of a walk-in cooler but the sour rank smell of the dead washed out of the darkness and he quickly closed it again.
From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy
These days, reservations are recommended but Sullivan holds space for walk-ins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
The prices are reasonable, service fantastic and they take walk-ins.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025
Businesses aren’t open or have signs stating that walk-ins aren’t welcome.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025
The couple set aside a dozen seats in the bar area for walk-ins if you can’t score a reservation in this 44-seat bistro.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 24, 2023
I avoid all contact with both walk-ins until a quick inventory check while Dee is doing dishes.
From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King
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.
