inherit

[ in-her-it ]

verb (used with object)

1. to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir:

   to inherit the family business.

2. to receive as if by succession from predecessors:

   the problems the new government inherited from the previous administration.

3. to receive (a genetic character or trait) by the transmission of hereditary factors.
4. to succeed (a person) as heir.
5. to receive as one's portion; come into possession of:

   to inherit his brother's old clothes.

verb (used without object)

1. to take or receive property or the like by virtue of being heir to it.
2. to receive qualities, powers, duties, etc., as by inheritance (followed by from ).
3. to have succession as heir.

inherit

/ ɪnˈhɛrɪt /

verb

1. to receive (property, a right, title, etc) by succession or under a will
2. intr to succeed as heir
3. tr to possess (a characteristic) through genetic transmission
4. tr to receive (a position, attitude, property, etc) from a predecessor

Derived Forms

• inˈheritress, noun:feminine
• inˈheritor, noun
• inˈherited, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·in·her·it verb (used with object)
• re·in·her·it verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inherit¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English en(h)erit(i)en, from Middle French enheriter, from Late Latin inhērēditāre “to make heir”; in- ³, hereditary

Word History and Origins

Origin of inherit¹

C14: from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhērēditāre to appoint an heir, from Latin hērēs heir

Example Sentences

And, all ad groups and keywords will inherit bidding from their parent campaign.

From Search Engine Land

As he pointed out in his recent State of the City address, the budget he inherited is in trouble.

From Voice of San Diego

The psychologists who designed these tests in the early 20th century believed, incorrectly, that you inherited “intelligence” from your family and nothing you might do would change it.

From Washington Post

Fortunately, Bush inherited his father’s sense of humor along with his two left feet.

From Washington Post

Political corruption, economic inequality and violence are organic features of American society, and they reflect the same legacies of racism that international development inherited from the Enlightenment.

From Washington Post

Simon did not expect to inherit, and in a way he never really did.

From The Daily Beast

This demographic reality means that whoever wins the suburban vote in 2016 and beyond will inherit the political future.

From The Daily Beast

Having said that, leadership is not a birth right that you inherit and it just keeps going.

From The Daily Beast

It makes sense only in cultural contexts in which women breed and men inherit.

From The Daily Beast

The anti-evolutionists were as humiliated in this performance as they were in Inherit the Wind.

From The Daily Beast

And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him.

From Project Gutenberg

They inherit from father to children, or by blood, and do not recognize one as greater than the other.

From Project Gutenberg

He will say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

From Project Gutenberg

I have made pilgrimages and given gifts,—but there is no one to inherit my name and the traditions of my race.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew he was next-of-kin to old Charles Faversham, and would naturally think he would inherit his wealth.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acquire
• derive
• obtain
• receive
• succeed
• take over