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

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

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

Burry has said he believes the useful lives of the chips are shorter than six years, meaning Nvidia’s customers are inflating profits by spreading out depreciation costs over a long period.

Read more on Barron's

That should also allay fears of inflated valuations for artificial intelligence plays—as Barron’s has argued, any bubble is unlikely to burst while the Fed is in the midst of cutting rates.

Read more on Barron's

The carry trade was the lubricant keeping global asset prices inflated.

Read more on MarketWatch

Kress took on the argument that some of Nvidia’s customers were inflating profits by spreading out depreciation costs over a long period—a claim that Big Short hero Michael Burry amplified earlier this month.

Read more on Barron's

The government has announced legislation to outlaw the sale of tickets to sports events at inflated prices - but it's not good news for football fans.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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