inhabit
Americanverb
-
(tr) to live or dwell in; occupy
-
archaic (intr) to abide or dwell
Other Word Forms
- inhabitability noun
- inhabitable adjective
- inhabitation noun
- preinhabit verb (used with object)
- preinhabitation noun
- reinhabit verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of inhabit
First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin inhabitāre, equivalent to in- in- 2 + habitāre “to dwell” ( habit 2 ); replacing Middle English enhabiten, from Middle French enhabiter, from Latin as above
Explanation
When you inhabit a place, you live there. When actors inhabit their roles, they seem to become the characters, no longer actors reciting their lines. It is like they live the life of the character. The verb inhabit comes from the Old French enhabiter, meaning “dwell in.” You can inhabit an actual place, like a home, a cave, or a neighborhood. You can also inhabit an imaginary world, like those who choose to inhabit cyberspace with a made-up persona, telling about experiences that are nothing like the person's real life. Actors who truly inhabit their roles sometimes struggle to return to reality after a movie or television show wraps.
Vocabulary lists containing inhabit
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 1
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List 2
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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.
But a city's soul is animated not just by its buildings and structures but also by the people who inhabit it.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
Despite their elusive nature, evidence indicates they continue to inhabit the region.
From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026
They "create a mood, create a palette, create a feeling for characters, the places they inhabit."
From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026
Allen had a test run on her infant’s gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tract.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026
He doesn’t want to inhabit an anonymous room.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
