inbox

noun

in·​box ˈin-ˌbäks How to pronounce inbox (audio)
variants or in-box
plural inboxes or in-boxes
1
: a box or tray (as on a desk) for holding incoming interoffice mail
2
: a computer folder devoted to incoming email
One of my favorite rituals soon became scanning our email inbox, looking for your photographs … and reading the letters you sent …— Amy Virshup

Examples of inbox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inbox was in 1958

Browse Nearby Words

inbounds pass
inbox
inbreak
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Cite this Entry

“Inbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inbox. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

in-box

noun
ˈin-ˌbäks
: a receptacle for incoming letters between offices in an organization
also : a computer folder for incoming email

More from Merriam-Webster on inbox

Nglish: Translation of inbox for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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