inhale
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inhalesimple
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inhalessimple
-
have inhaledperfect
-
has inhaledperfect
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am inhalingprogressive
-
are inhalingprogressive
-
is inhalingprogressive
-
have been inhalingperfect progressive
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has been inhalingperfect progressive
Past
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inhaledsimple
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had inhaledperfect
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was inhalingprogressive
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were inhalingprogressive
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had been inhalingperfect progressive
Future
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.
See Examples For:
Did he inhale too deeply the vapors of power?
From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026
There is a risk of drowning if you inhale water.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can stunt the brain development and lead to behavioral issues in young children that inhale or ingest it.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
People and animals can inhale them, raising concerns about potential health effects.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2026
She walks over and stands so close to me that with each breath I take, I inhale a mix of her flowery perfume and the tart she just consumed.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
The large orange oblong zone “represents areas that are immediately dangerous to life and health, where it would cause injury if anybody inhales or is impacted by the product in question.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026
First, hantavirus is a family of viruses that typically spreads to humans from rodent droppings or urine such as when someone inhales particles near infected rodents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
With other hantaviruses, infections occur when a person is exposed to or inhales the dried droppings, urine or saliva of infected rodents.
From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026
"A child playing on the floor inhales even more because the concentrations of particles are greater closer to the ground."
From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2024
Dad inhales sharply and Aunt Melissa’s lips press together.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
He inhaled it in a few days, and then reread it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
But fallen ash still poses major health risks if ingested or inhaled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
When it is inhaled, through smoking or in industrial settings, it can cause lung cancer, according to the World Health Organization.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
Dr. Paudel, a visiting scholar in the UTS Faculty of Engineering, is also studying how inhaled microplastics may affect lung health.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2026
With eyes closed they inhaled deeply, for a good, concentrated sniff was the most foolproof way of knowing what was what.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Worsak Kanok Nukulchai, a professor specialising in structural engineering, believes many people would have died by inhaling toxic smoke "even before getting burned".
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
“If she were inhaling steam that was like 120 degrees Fahrenheit, imagine that in the back of your throat,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
Most often, people become infected with these viruses by inhaling aerosolized urine or droppings from infected rodents.
From Salon ● May 9, 2026
Typically, hantavirus spreads by inhaling particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of wild rodents.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
“Mrs. Lonogan has been inhaling kitty litter for centuries.”
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
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.
