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definitions

inhabit

[ in-hab-it ]
/ ɪnˈhæb ɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inhabit ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to live or dwell in (a place), as people or animals: Small animals inhabited the woods.
to exist or be situated within; dwell in: Weird notions inhabit his mind.

verb (used without object)

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

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RELATED WORDS

locate, occupy, reside, populate, possess, perch, squat, crash, people, park, abide, stay, live, settle, lodge, dwell, tenant, roost, indwell

Nearby words

  1. ingushetia,
  2. ingveonic,
  3. ingweonic,
  4. ingénue,
  5. inh,
  6. inhabitancy,
  7. inhabitant,
  8. inhabited,
  9. inhabiter,
  10. inhalant

Origin of inhabit

1325–75; < Latin inhabitāre, equivalent to in- in-2 + habitāre to dwell (see habit2); replacing Middle English enhabiten < Middle French enhabiter < Latin as above
Related forms
Can be confusedhabitable inhabitable uninhabitable
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inhabit

British Dictionary definitions for inhabit

inhabit

/ (ɪnˈhæbɪt) /

verb -its, -iting or -ited

(tr) to live or dwell in; occupy
(intr) archaic to abide or dwell
Derived Formsinhabitable, adjectiveinhabitability, nouninhabitation, noun

Word Origin for inhabit

C14: from Latin inhabitāre, from habitāre to dwell
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
Word Origin and History for inhabit

inhabit

v.

late 14c., from Old French enhabiter "dwell in" (12c.), from Latin inhabitare "to dwell in," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + habitare "to dwell," frequentative of habere "hold, have" (see habit). Related: Inhabited; inhabiting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper