ENGLISH
REFERENCE

inland

adj. · adv. · n.
US //ˈɪnˌɫænd// in·land
  1. 1 away from the coast (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    located in the middle of a country, far from the sea or ocean.

    situated in the interior of a country or region; remote from the coast or maritime boundaries.

    Example

    The inland areas of the country are much hotter than the coast.

    Example

    The inland provinces suffered more from the drought than the coastal regions, where the sea breeze provided some relief from the heat.

  2. 2 domestic or internal (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    happening inside one country rather than involving other countries.

    relating to the internal affairs or commerce of a country; domestic rather than international.

    Example

    The government is reviewing the rules for inland trade.

    Example

    The department manages inland revenue and domestic taxation policies to ensure economic stability within the borders.

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  1. 3 towards the interior (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    moving towards the middle of the land and away from the sea.

    towards or into the interior of a country.

    Example

    The birds fly inland when a big storm is coming.

    Example

    As the hurricane approached, the residents were advised to move further inland to avoid the dangerous storm surge.

  2. 4 the interior part (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the part of a country that is far from the coast.

    the interior part of a country or region.

    Example

    The explorers spent months traveling through the deep inland.

    Example

    The geography of the inland differs significantly from the rugged cliffs found along the northern shoreline.

Origin

From Middle English inland, inlond, from Old English inland, equivalent to in- + land. Compare West Frisian ynlân (“inland”), German Inland (“inland”), Danish indland (“inland”), Swedish inland (“inland”), Norwegian innland (“inland”). Compare also Dutch binnenland.

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