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)
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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
Related Words
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.
Both rappers have accused each other of using bots to artificially inflate their listening figures - something that was mentioned in Drake's lawsuit against his own label, Universal Music Group, which was eventually thrown out.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
The researchers say this interaction could partly inflate the estimated genetic influence of IQ, potentially by as much as 15 percentage points.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
Then there are add-ons like extended warranties, tire protection and GAP insurance that can inflate the final price by as much as 30%.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026
“We will continue to hold accountable insurers that knowingly submit inaccurate or unsupported diagnoses to improperly inflate reimbursement,” Shumate said in a statement.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
We’ll inflate a balloon using baking soda and vinegar!
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
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.
