inflate

[in-fleyt]

verb (used with object)

inflated, inflating 

1. to distend; swell or puff out; dilate.

   The king cobra inflates its hood.

   Antonyms: deflate

2. to cause to expand or distend with air or gas.

   to inflate a balloon.

3. to puff up with pride, satisfaction, etc.

4. to elate.

5. Economics.,  to expand (money, prices, an economy, etc.) unduly in amount, value, or size; affect with inflation.

verb (used without object)

inflated, inflating 

1. to become inflated.

2. to increase, especially suddenly and substantially.

   The $10 subscription has inflated to $25.

inflate

/ ɪnˈfleɪt /

verb

1. to expand or cause to expand by filling with gas or air

   she needed to inflate the tyres

2. (tr) to cause to increase excessively; puff up; swell

   to inflate one's opinion of oneself

3. (tr) to cause inflation of (prices, money, etc)

4. (tr) to raise in spirits; elate

5. (intr) to undergo economic inflation

Other Word Forms

• inflatedly adverb
• inflater noun
• inflatedness noun
• inflator noun
• overinflate verb (used with object)
• reinflate verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflate¹

First recorded in 1500–20; from Latin inflātus, past participle of inflāre “to blow on or into, puff out,” equivalent to in- in- ² + flā- blow ² + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflate¹

C16: from Latin inflāre to blow into, from flāre to blow

Synonym Study

See expand.

Example Sentences

It says these figures are "inflated and false".

From BBC

Schools are giving students inflated grades in the wake of the pandemic, but states are not doing a good job giving parents a reality check, the report said.

From Los Angeles Times

Brighton say they are using new technologies to try and crack down on the reselling of tickets for vastly inflated prices by unauthorised websites.

From BBC

The FTC also alleges that the ticket company is misleading artists and consumers with “bait-and-switch pricing,” with tactics such as advertising lower ticket prices than the actual total after inflated pricing and extra fees.

From Los Angeles Times

Where lines like “don’t give up; don’t stop believing; keep the faith” can transform from overworn platitudes into a chant of quiet confidence and inflate the listener’s heart like the Grinch on Christmas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• augment 
• bloat 
• boost 
• enlarge 
• escalate 
• exaggerate 
• expand 
• magnify 
• maximize 
• overestimate 
• pad 
• widen