inhabit
Americanverb
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(tr) to live or dwell in; occupy
-
archaic (intr) to abide or dwell
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inhabit
First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin inhabitāre, equivalent to in- in- 2 + habitāre “to dwell” ( see habit 2); replacing Middle English enhabiten, from Middle French enhabiter, from Latin as above
Explanation
When you inhabit a place, you live there. When actors inhabit their roles, they seem to become the characters, no longer actors reciting their lines. It is like they live the life of the character. The verb inhabit comes from the Old French enhabiter, meaning “dwell in.” You can inhabit an actual place, like a home, a cave, or a neighborhood. You can also inhabit an imaginary world, like those who choose to inhabit cyberspace with a made-up persona, telling about experiences that are nothing like the person's real life. Actors who truly inhabit their roles sometimes struggle to return to reality after a movie or television show wraps.
Vocabulary lists containing inhabit
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 1
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List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Along the way, she chronicles it all like a gossip columnist for her 1.2 million Instagram followers and nearly half a million Substack subscribers under the name House Inhabit.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
Adler, owner of Inhabit Interior Design, a full-service firm specializing in residential design, had envisioned building up ever since she bought the house, and started the process in 2020.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2022
On the second day, listing agent Patrick Clark of Inhabit Real Estate showed the restored and updated home to nine more hopeful buyers.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2021
To get to “London’s first mindful boutique hotel”, as Inhabit calls itself, I walk from Paddington station, mid-construction frenzy, along some of the capital’s least zen streets, past fast-food joints, souvenir shops and roadworks.
From The Guardian • Oct. 25, 2019
All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement Inhabit here: some heavenly power guide us Out of this fearful country!
From Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8 by Sylvester, Charles Herbert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
