inherit
Americanverb (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 byfrom ).
-
to have succession as heir.
verb
-
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
Other Word Forms
- inherited adjective
- inheritor noun
- inheritress noun
- preinherit verb (used with object)
- reinherit verb
Etymology
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”; in- 3, hereditary
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.
It’s a study of what we inherit from our parents.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
She’ll inherit in her mid-60s, probably after her peak earning years, after her kids are grown, after the critical wealth-building window has closed.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026
But he also noted that Warsh would inherit significant challenges.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
She told the victims she was soon to inherit about £80m from her late grandfather.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
Lázaro has no sons to inherit his legacy and his daughters reject it outright.
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
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.
