inhabit

[ in-hab-it ]
See synonyms for: inhabitinhabitedinhabitinginhabitable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to live or dwell in (a place), as people or animals: Small animals inhabited the woods.

  2. to exist or be situated within; dwell in: Weird notions inhabit his mind.

verb (used without object)
  1. Archaic. to live or dwell, as in a place.

Origin of inhabit

1
First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin inhabitāre, equivalent to in- in-2 + habitāre “to dwell” (see habit2); replacing Middle English enhabiten, from Middle French enhabiter, from Latin as above

Other words for inhabit

Other words from inhabit

  • in·hab·it·a·ble, adjective
  • in·hab·i·ta·tion, noun
  • pre·in·hab·it, verb (used with object)
  • pre·in·hab·i·ta·tion, noun
  • re·in·hab·it, verb (used with object)

Words that may be confused with inhabit

Words Nearby inhabit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use inhabit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inhabit

inhabit

/ (ɪnˈhæbɪt) /


verb-its, -iting or -ited
  1. (tr) to live or dwell in; occupy

  2. (intr) archaic to abide or dwell

Origin of inhabit

1
C14: from Latin inhabitāre, from habitāre to dwell

Derived forms of inhabit

  • inhabitable, adjective
  • inhabitability, noun
  • inhabitation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012