inhale
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
inhalesimple
-
inhalessimple
-
have inhaledperfect
-
has inhaledperfect
-
am inhalingprogressive
-
are inhalingprogressive
-
is inhalingprogressive
-
have been inhalingperfect progressive
-
has been inhalingperfect progressive
Past
-
inhaledsimple
-
had inhaledperfect
-
was inhalingprogressive
-
were inhalingprogressive
-
had been inhalingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of inhale
Explanation
To inhale is to breathe in. It is the opposite of "exhale," which is to breathe out. When we inhale, we draw air into our lungs through our noses and mouths. Then we exhale, or breathe the air out again. If we do this slowly, as in yoga or meditation, it can be quite relaxing. However, some things like smoke, toxic fumes, or germs might make us sick if we inhale them. And if we accidentally inhale water while we're swimming, it makes us sputter and cough. This is because our lungs are only interested in good, clean air.
Vocabulary lists containing inhale
Inside Out & Back Again
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!
"A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long," Vocabulary from the poem
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!
American Street
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.
See Examples For:
We inhale and ingest them from almost everything we touch, breathe, eat and drink.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Did he inhale too deeply the vapors of power?
From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can stunt the brain development and lead to behavioral issues in young children that inhale or ingest it.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
"One of my most frequent tics is I clench my stomach and that makes me inhale air, which means that I'm constantly bloated," Smith says.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
It's so quiet in the room I can hear each inhale and exhale.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
First, hantavirus is a family of viruses that typically spreads to humans from rodent droppings or urine such as when someone inhales particles near infected rodents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
With other hantaviruses, infections occur when a person is exposed to or inhales the dried droppings, urine or saliva of infected rodents.
From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026
And she inhales them at a rate that makes me wonder if she actually has the job she claims to have or spends all day curled up with the Modern Library.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2026
"A child playing on the floor inhales even more because the concentrations of particles are greater closer to the ground."
From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2024
My nose inhales the aroma and my eyes fixate on the yellow ears.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
He inhaled it in a few days, and then reread it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Their tiny hairs contain toxins that may lead to itchy skin rashes, sore throats, breathing difficulties and eye irritation if touched or inhaled.
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
If inhaled at high levels, fumes can aggravate a person’s lungs, causing coughing, wheezing and chest tightness.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2026
When it is inhaled, through smoking or in industrial settings, it can cause lung cancer, according to the World Health Organization.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
He inhaled sharply—and then he was so, so still.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
The hopes of finding them alive were fading fast, since people can survive only so long trapped beneath the rubble without water while inhaling suffocating dust.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Because methylsiloxanes appear to be present almost everywhere in the atmosphere, researchers say people are likely inhaling them continuously.
From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026
Most often, people become infected with these viruses by inhaling aerosolized urine or droppings from infected rodents.
From Salon ● May 9, 2026
Typically, hantavirus spreads by inhaling particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of wild rodents.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
Now, by the time I reached the top of the craggy hill, each ragged breath felt like inhaling fire.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
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.
