inhabit

American  

[in-hab-it] / ɪnˈhæb ɪt /

verb (used with object)

1. to live or dwell in (a place), as people or animals.

   Small animals inhabited the woods.

   Synonyms:

   populate , tenant , occupy , reside

2. to exist or be situated within; dwell in.

   Weird notions inhabit his mind.

   Synonyms:

   populate , tenant , occupy , reside

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verb (used without object)

1. Archaic.  to live or dwell, as in a place.

inhabit British  

/ ɪnˈhæbɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to live or dwell in; occupy

2. archaic  (intr) to abide or dwell

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Other Word Forms

• inhabitability noun
• inhabitable adjective
• inhabitation noun
• preinhabit verb (used with object)
• preinhabitation noun
• reinhabit verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of inhabit

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin inhabitāre, equivalent to in- in- ² + habitāre “to dwell” ( habit ² ); replacing Middle English enhabiten, from Middle French enhabiter, from Latin as above

Example Sentences

Miles’ case underscores a stark contradiction: people whose ancestors inhabited this land for millennia can still be treated as outsiders, illustrating how legal recognition and federal enforcement often fail to align in practice.

From Salon

These microbes inhabit rock and water systems far below the surface, where sunlight never reaches.

From Science Daily

But even with the school’s infrastructure behind him, the experience of playing the Playfair exists outside any practical career calculus; it marks an inflection point, a rare chance to inhabit history while shaping it.

From Los Angeles Times

Their features clearly link them to a cardabiodontid, a group of giant predatory sharks that inhabited the oceans around 100 million years ago.

From Science Daily

Department of Building and Safety on Friday, meaning it passed inspection and is safe to inhabit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• locate
• occupy
• populate
• possess
• reside