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inhibit

[ in-hib-it ]
/ ɪnˈhɪb ɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inhibit ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.).
to prohibit; forbid.
Psychology. to consciously or unconsciously suppress or restrain (psychologically or sociologically unacceptable behavior).
Chemistry. to decrease the rate of action of or stop (a chemical reaction).

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RELATED WORDS

hinder, obstruct, discourage, prohibit, forbid, suppress, outlaw, stymie, restrain, curb, impede, constrain, hog-tie, cramp, bar, avert, withhold, faze, bit, stop

Nearby words

  1. inherited character,
  2. inheritor,
  3. inheritrix,
  4. inhesion,
  5. inhibin,
  6. inhibited,
  7. inhibition,
  8. inhibitor,
  9. inhibitory,
  10. inhibitory fiber

Origin of inhibit

1425–75; late Middle English inhibiten < Latin inhibitus, past participle of inhibēre to restrain, equivalent to in- in-2 + -hibēre, combining form of habēre to have, hold
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inhibit

British Dictionary definitions for inhibit

inhibit

/ (ɪnˈhɪbɪt) /

verb -its, -iting or -ited (tr)

to restrain or hinder (an impulse, a desire, etc)
to prohibit; forbid
to stop, prevent, or decrease the rate of (a chemical reaction)
electronics
  1. to prevent the occurrence of (a particular signal) in a circuit
  2. to prevent the performance of (a particular operation)
Derived Formsinhibitable, adjectiveinhibitive or inhibitory, adjective

Word Origin for inhibit

C15: from Latin inhibēre to restrain, from in- ² + habēre to have
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

Word Origin and History for inhibit

inhibit

v.

early 15c., "to forbid, prohibit," back-formation from inhibition or else from Latin inhibitus, past participle of inhibere "to hold in, hold back, keep back" (see inhibition). Psychological sense (1876) is from earlier, softened meaning of "restrain, check, hinder" (1530s). Related: Inhibited; inhibiting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for inhibit

inhibit

[ ĭn-hĭb′ĭt ]

v.

To hold back; restrain.
To suppress or restrain a behavioral process, an impulse, or a desire consciously or unconsciously.
To prevent or decrease the rate of a chemical reaction.
To decrease, limit, or block the action or function of something in the body, as an enzyme or organ.
Related formsin•hib′i•to′ry (-tôr′ē) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.