English Reference

Word

isle

Phoneticsisle

US/ˈaɪɫ/

UK/ˈaɪəl/

Definition

n. a small island, often used in names or poetry.

n. an island, usually of a smaller size. Often used in geographical proper names or to evoke a poetic tone.

Examples

“The boat sailed toward the small isle.”

“The Isle of Wight is a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy the English coast.”

“The poet described a lonely isle where the only sounds were the rhythmic crashing of waves and the cries of distant gulls.”

Examples

simple

“The boat sailed toward the small isle.”

contextual

“The Isle of Wight is a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy the English coast.”

complex

“The poet described a lonely isle where the only sounds were the rhythmic crashing of waves and the cries of distant gulls.”

Usage

Commonly appears in proper nouns like 'the British Isles' or 'the Isle of Man'.

Pitfall

We walked down the isle to find our seats.

We walked down the aisle to find our seats.

Do not confuse 'isle' (an island) with 'aisle' (a passage between rows of seats).

Real-World Examples

“After 12 years they moved to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.”
The Guardian · 18 Jul 2026

Synonyms

Antonyms

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated
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Literary

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English Reference