inherit

[in-her-it]

verb (used with object)

1. to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir.

   to inherit the family business.

2. to receive as if by succession from predecessors.

   the problems the new government inherited from the previous administration.

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

4. to succeed (a person) as heir.

5. to receive as one's portion; come into possession of.

   to inherit his brother's old clothes.

verb (used without object)

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

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

3. to have succession as heir.

inherit

/ ɪnˈhɛrɪt /

verb

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

2. (intr) to succeed as heir

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

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

Other Word Forms

• preinherit verb (used with object)
• reinherit verb
• inheritress noun
• inheritor noun
• inherited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inherit¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of inherit¹

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

Example Sentences

Whoever is appointed next at Rangers inherits a team bereft of confidence with their defence in particular struggling to contain opponents for most of the season so far and scoring also a problem.

From BBC

By the time Sasaki started warming up in the bottom of the eighth inning, he might as well have already inherited the closer role by default.

From Los Angeles Times

You inherit 23 of these bundles of DNA from each of your parents for a total of 46, which the egg already has.

From BBC

My willingness to abandon a single entree for a few little bites is inherited.

From Salon

The problems Labour inherited on taking office were profound.

From BBC

Related Words

• acquire 
• derive 
• obtain 
• receive 
• succeed 
• take over