inn

inn — noun

1. a building in the countryside that sells alcoholic drinks and simple meals and a

1.nounB1
Definition

a building in the countryside that sells alcoholic drinks and simple meals and also has rooms where guests can sleep for the night

Example

Otis rested at a small inn near the river after walking through the hills.

collocation: stay at an inn

The village inn had three guest rooms upstairs and a busy bar downstairs.

physical layout of a traditional inn

Common collocations
  • stay at an inn
  • village inn
  • innkeeper
  • book a room at an inn
Synonyms
  • tavern

    more old-fashioned; now mostly used in historical contexts or US place names

  • pub

    a pub usually serves drinks and food but does not always offer rooms for the night

  • hostelry

    formal or literary term for an inn or hotel; very rare in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

at + the + inn

stay at + an + inn

Usage Note

In this sense, the public bar or restaurant is the main feature of the business, and the guest rooms are secondary. The person who runs an inn is called an innkeeper.

Common Mistakes

The hotel was a small inn in the city centre.
The hotel was a small inn in the countryside.
Inns in this sense are typically found in rural areas, not city centres.

2. a small building in a rural area where visitors can pay to sleep and eat meals

2.nounB1
Definition

a small building in a rural area where visitors can pay to sleep and eat meals

Example

Kabir found a lovely inn in the Lake District with a beautiful garden.

adjective + inn: lovely inn

The inn offers eight rooms, all with views of the surrounding hills and farmland.

inn + offers / features

Common collocations
  • country inn
  • charming inn
  • old inn
  • book an inn
  • run an inn
Synonyms
  • guesthouse

    similar to a small inn but often a private home with rented rooms; may not serve meals to non-guests

  • lodge

    often used for accommodation in mountain or holiday settings; can be larger than an inn

  • bed and breakfast

    a small lodging that provides a room and breakfast, usually in a private house

Grammar Patterns

at + the + inn

stay at + an + inn

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense focuses on accommodation rather than the bar or restaurant. The inn may or may not serve alcoholic drinks. Distinguish from sense 1 ('COUNTRY PUB WITH ROOMS'), where the pub function is primary.

Common Mistakes

We stayed at a four-star inn in the city.
We stayed at a small inn in the countryside.
Inns in this sense are small and usually found outside cities, not large urban hotels.

3. a word forming part of the title of hotels, pubs, and restaurants, meant to give

3.nounA2
Definition

a word forming part of the title of hotels, pubs, and restaurants, meant to give an impression of tradition or warmth

Example

The Red Lion Inn has been serving hot meals and ale to travellers since 1750.

proper name: The ___ Inn

Christopher booked a table at the Riverside Inn for his family's dinner celebration.

proper name: river + Inn

Grammar Patterns

The + [Name] + Inn

Usage Note

This sense only appears as part of a proper name for a hotel, pub, or restaurant. In such names, 'Inn' is always capitalised and cannot be replaced by a synonym. The business may or may not match the traditional idea of an inn — for example, 'Holiday Inn' is a large hotel chain.

Common Mistakes

I booked a room at the holiday inn.
I booked a room at the Holiday Inn.
When used as part of a proper name, 'Inn' must be capitalised and the full name should be treated as a proper noun.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Inn, guesthouse, lodge, and bed and breakfast (B&B) all describe small accommodation, usually outside cities. An inn traditionally has a bar or restaurant and may serve non-guests, which is its main difference from a guesthouse — a private home with rented rooms that does not usually serve meals to the public. A lodge is often found in mountain or holiday settings and can be larger; it may offer meals but the focus is on outdoor activities. A B&B is the smallest option, typically a family home offering a room and breakfast only, with no restaurant or bar. For example: 'We ate dinner at the inn's restaurant' would sound odd if applied to a B&B, since B&Bs do not have public restaurants.

inn ↗guesthouse ↗lodge ↗bed and breakfast

Common collocations

Nouns

  • country inn
  • village inn
  • historic inn
  • old inn
  • traditional inn

Phrases

  • stay at an inn
  • run an inn
  • book into an inn

Prepositions

  • at an inn
  • in an inn