noun
-
the act of inhaling; breathing in of air or other vapours
-
an inhalant formulation
-
The act of taking in breath. Inhalation results from the negative pressure in the lungs caused by contraction of the diaphragm, which causes it to move downwards and to expand the chest cavity. The resulting flow of air into the lungs restores a pressure equal to that of the atmosphere.
-
Also called inspiration
-
Compare exhalation
Etymology
Origin of inhalation
Compare meaning
How does inhalation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An inhalation is an inward breath. When you swim to the surface of a pool after being under water, you'll take a deep inhalation. The inhalation of gas fumes is bad for you, while inhalation of scents like peppermint can be very relaxing. If you've ever taken a yoga class, you know there's a lot of talk about breathing, inhalation and exhalation (breathing out). Inhalation comes from the verb inhale, "to breathe in," from the Latin inhalare, "breathe upon."
Vocabulary lists containing inhalation
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for April 22–April 28, 2023
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Part 3 Vocabulary (Unit 5)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Shut Up, This Is Serious
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Vegetation fires spreading beyond the immediate burn zone add perhaps hundreds of fatalities from burning, smoke inhalation and vehicle crashes.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
More than three times as many people went to emergency rooms within 10 miles of the warehouse mentioning the fire or smoke inhalation than two weeks prior.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
The ambulance service in the West Midlands region, including Stourbridge and Staffordshire, said it had treated 68 people Thursday with symptoms such as smoke inhalation, 25 of whom were hospitalised.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
There were no "serious injuries" from the fire, with most patients treated for smoke inhalation, Libya's Ambulance and Emergency Service said on Tuesday.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The Brahmins and their holy books knew everything, everything; they had gone into everything—the creation of the world, the origin of speech, food, inhalation, exhalation, the arrangement of the senses, the acts of the gods.
From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse
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.
