inflate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to distend; swell or puff out; dilate.
The king cobra inflates its hood.
- Antonyms:
- deflate
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to cause to expand or distend with air or gas.
to inflate a balloon.
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to puff up with pride, satisfaction, etc.
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to elate.
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Economics. to expand (money, prices, an economy, etc.) unduly in amount, value, or size; affect with inflation.
verb (used without object)
-
to become inflated.
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to increase, especially suddenly and substantially.
The $10 subscription has inflated to $25.
verb
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to expand or cause to expand by filling with gas or air
she needed to inflate the tyres
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(tr) to cause to increase excessively; puff up; swell
to inflate one's opinion of oneself
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(tr) to cause inflation of (prices, money, etc)
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(tr) to raise in spirits; elate
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(intr) to undergo economic inflation
Synonym Usage
See expand.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inflate
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
Explanation
Using your own breath or an air pump, you can inflate a balloon — or anything else you need to pump air into. When you inflate something you fill it with air (or any other gas) to make it expand. From the Latin verb inflāre, "to blow into," the word inflate appeared in English in the early 16th century. Although we usually think of the word inflate as referring to blowing air or gas into a balloon or a tire, anything that grows larger, from food prices to an egoist's self-image, can be inflated. When an item becomes scarce, its price is likely to be inflated.
Vocabulary lists containing inflate
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.
Inflate your tires to the pressure recommended on the inside of your driver’s side door.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2022
Oversized Exoplanets Inflate Themselves The 500 and more known exoplanets are plenty weird and wonderful, thanks in large part to many of them orbiting perilously close to their stars.
From Science Magazine • Dec. 22, 2011
Inflate an Aqua Aid, worn on the wrist or on the waist in a tiny packet and available to the prudent for only $4.95.
From Time Magazine Archive
Inflate the tube just enough so that any adhesive that found its way into the tube will not cause inner surfaces to stick together.
From Time Magazine Archive
Inflate the lungs and observe the position of the heart with reference to them.
From Physiology and Hygiene for Secondary Schools by Walters, Francis M.
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.
