inhabit

[ in-hab-it ]

verb (used with object)

1. to live or dwell in (a place), as people or animals:

   Small animals inhabited the woods.

   Synonyms: populate, tenant, occupy, reside

2. to exist or be situated within; dwell in:

   Weird notions inhabit his mind.

   Synonyms: populate, tenant, occupy, reside

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic. to live or dwell, as in a place.

inhabit

/ ɪnˈhæbɪt /

verb

1. tr to live or dwell in; occupy
2. archaic.
   intr to abide or dwell

Derived Forms

• inˌhabitaˈbility, noun
• inˌhabiˈtation, noun
• inˈhabitable, adjective

Other Words From

• 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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabit¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabit¹

C14: from Latin inhabitāre, from habitāre to dwell

Example Sentences

About a million years ago there was one known species of mammoth inhabiting Siberia, the steppe mammoth.

From Singularity Hub 

Caught at an impasse, “So They Say,” is an offering from his as-yet-to-be announced second project, and allows Paige to express his gut feelings about the world he inhabits.

From Essence.com

What’s more, some hairy behemoths that inhabited North America may have been a hybrid mix between the woolly mammoth and a previously unknown mammoth species, researchers report February 17 in Nature.

From Science News

Police work, she argues, exposes what a “complicated” moral universe we inhabit.

From Washington Post

As someone who grew up 30 minutes outside the city, I never thought wild game would inhabit any part of the Five Boroughs.

From Popular-Science

Actors can inhabit the person through the sheer force of their assimilation.

From The Daily Beast

Jarrett is the first person to fully inhabit this newly dominant role.

From The Daily Beast

The Universe we inhabit seems to be four-dimensional: the three dimensions of height, length, and depth, along with time.

From The Daily Beast

There is no sign of the beefy NHL players who usually inhabit the place.

From The Daily Beast

To try to do your best to inhabit a character, you judge them to the extent that you judge yourself.

From The Daily Beast

Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth.

From Project Gutenberg

What New France is, the nature of the country, what tribes inhabit it, and their customs.

From Project Gutenberg

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruits of them.

From Project Gutenberg

They inhabit the small intestine, usually in great numbers, and commonly produce a severe and often fatal anemia.

From Project Gutenberg

And Asor shall be a habitation for dragons, desolate for ever: no man shall abide there, nor son of man inhabit it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• locate
• occupy
• populate
• possess
• reside