inherit

[ in-her-it ]

/ ɪnˈhɛr ɪt /

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See synonyms for: inherit / inherited / inheriting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir: to inherit the family business.

to receive as if by succession from predecessors: the problems the new government inherited from the previous administration.

to receive (a genetic character or trait) by the transmission of hereditary factors.

to succeed (a person) as heir.

to receive as one's portion; come into possession of: to inherit his brother's old clothes.

verb (used without object)

to take or receive property or the like by virtue of being heir to it.

to receive qualities, powers, duties, etc., as by inheritance (followed by from).

to have succession as heir.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of inherit

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English en(h)erit(i)en, from Middle French enheriter, from Late Latin inhērēditāre “to make heir”; see in-³, hereditary

OTHER WORDS FROM inherit

pre·in·her·it, verb (used with object)re·in·her·it, verb

Words nearby inherit

inherence, inherency, inherent, inherent immunity, inherently, inherit, inheritable, inheritance, inheritance tax, inherited, inherited character

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use inherit in a sentence

And, all ad groups and keywords will inherit bidding from their parent campaign.
Google might have to subsidize journalism, but not like this…|George Nguyen|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Land
As he pointed out in his recent State of the City address, the budget he inherited is in trouble.
VOSD Podcast: Budget Hits and Learning Loss|Nate John|February 5, 2021|Voice of San Diego
The psychologists who designed these tests in the early 20th century believed, incorrectly, that you inherited “intelligence” from your family and nothing you might do would change it.
What you need to know about standardized testing|Valerie Strauss|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
Fortunately, Bush inherited his father’s sense of humor along with his two left feet.
Not all presidents’ dance skills are created equal|Bonnie Berkowitz, Joanne Lee|January 21, 2021|Washington Post

Political corruption, economic inequality and violence are organic features of American society, and they reflect the same legacies of racism that international development inherited from the Enlightenment.
What Americans across the political spectrum got wrong about the attempted insurrection|Corrie Decker, Elisabeth McMahon|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
Simon did not expect to inherit, and in a way he never really did.
Drawing Room Coup at Brideshead House Forces Out Simon And Becci Howard|Tom Sykes|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This demographic reality means that whoever wins the suburban vote in 2016 and beyond will inherit the political future.
The Progressives’ War on Suburbia|Joel Kotkin|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Having said that, leadership is not a birth right that you inherit and it just keeps going.
Transcript: Thomas Friedman Interviews Hillary Clinton and Christine Lagarde||April 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It makes sense only in cultural contexts in which women breed and men inherit.
The Strange Science Behind Virgin Births|Candida Moss|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The anti-evolutionists were as humiliated in this performance as they were in Inherit the Wind.
Creationism’s Latest Trojan Horse Edges Toward Virginia Schools|Karl W. Giberson|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath inherit the nations, that have not sought after him.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
They inherit from father to children, or by blood, and do not recognize one as greater than the other.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
He will say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
I have made pilgrimages and given gifts,—but there is no one to inherit my name and the traditions of my race.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa
He knew he was next-of-kin to old Charles Faversham, and would naturally think he would inherit his wealth.
The Everlasting Arms|Joseph Hocking

British Dictionary definitions for inherit

inherit

/ (ɪnˈhɛrɪt) /

verb -its, -iting or -ited

to receive (property, a right, title, etc) by succession or under a will

(intr) to succeed as heir

(tr) to possess (a characteristic) through genetic transmission

(tr) to receive (a position, attitude, property, etc) from a predecessor

Derived forms of inherit

inherited, adjectiveinheritor, nouninheritress or inheritrix, fem n

Word Origin for inherit

C14: from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhērēditāre to appoint an heir, from Latin hērēs heir

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

Medical definitions for inherit

inherit

[ ĭn-hĕr′ĭt ]

To receive a trait from one's parents by genetic transmission.

inherit

Origin of inherit

OTHER WORDS FROM inherit

Words nearby inherit

Words related to inherit

How to use inherit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inherit

Derived forms of inherit

Word Origin for inherit

Medical definitions for inherit