inhale
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
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
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"A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long," Vocabulary from the poem
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American Street
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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.
While the nation’s capital is filled with pretentious individuals who love to inhale their own fumes, the Oscars this ain’t.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
I would close my eyes and inhale deeply, bracing myself for what was coming: a strange cocktail of sadness, panic, and the most bone-deep exhaustion I’ve ever experienced.
From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026
When extensions are heated during styling, they can also release chemicals into the air that users may inhale.
From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026
The phrenic nerves contract and expand the diaphragm, which allows the lungs to inhale and exhale.
From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025
As I drop back into my squat behind home plate, my eyes scan the field, and I inhale deep.
From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone
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.
