English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

sleet

sleet
Quiz me More like this

Sleet (noun) means a wintry mix of rain and snow, or small pellets of ice formed from partly frozen raindrops. Example: “Sleet coated the roads in a thin, slippery layer overnight.”

noun
1
A wintry mix of rain and snow, or small pellets of ice formed from partly frozen raindrops.
"Sleet coated the roads in a thin, slippery layer overnight."
"We drove home through freezing sleet that made the highway treacherous."
verb
1
To fall as sleet.
"It sleeted for most of the drive north."

How to use sleet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIcy, half-frozen precipitation somewhere between rain and snow.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
freezing sleet sleet and snow
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sleet.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
sleets
Third person singular
sleets
Past tense
sleeted
Test yourself on “sleet” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ coated the roads in a thin, slippery layer overnight.

Etymology

From Old English roots related to Old Norse slydda, describing a mix of rain and snow.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for sleet

See all rhymes for sleet →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sleet” mean?
The word “sleet” means a wintry mix of rain and snow, or small pellets of ice formed from partly frozen raindrops. In plain terms, icy, half-frozen precipitation somewhere between rain and snow.
How do you pronounce “sleet”?
“Sleet” is pronounced sleet (/sliːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sleet” in a sentence?
Here is “sleet” used in a sentence: “Sleet coated the roads in a thin, slippery layer overnight.”
What part of speech is “sleet”?
Depending on how it is used, “sleet” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sleet” come from?
The word “sleet” comes from Old English. From Old English roots related to Old Norse slydda, describing a mix of rain and snow.
How many meanings does “sleet” have?
“Sleet” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wintry mix of rain and snow, or small pellets of ice formed from partly frozen raindrops.