inhabit

verb

in·​hab·​it in-ˈha-bət How to pronounce inhabit (audio)
inhabited; inhabiting; inhabits

transitive verb

1
: to occupy as a place of settled residence or habitat : live in
inhabit a small house
2
: to be present in or occupy in any manner or form
the human beings who inhabit this taleAl Newman

intransitive verb

archaic : to have residence in a place : dwell
inhabitable adjective
inhabiter noun

Examples of inhabit in a Sentence

Several hundred species of birds inhabit the island. This part of the country is inhabited by native tribes. There is a romantic quality that inhabits all her paintings. The novel is inhabited by a cast of eccentric characters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The stark, nearly windowless five-story building was earlier this year vacated by the Frick Collection, which had inhabited it since 2021 as the Frick Madison while its own home, a Gilded Age Fifth Avenue mansion, was being restored. News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2024 Now, Paul Rudd has the distinction of being the first actor on this show to inhabit two roles…. Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 29 Oct. 2024 Science is inhabited by a community, but it isn’t built by a committee. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 About 3,800-4,400 independent lions inhabit the state, while Colorado’s bobcat population is about 21,000, per agency estimates. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inhabit 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enhabiten, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French inhabiter, enhabiter, from Latin inhabitare, from in- + habitare to dwell, frequentative of habēre to have — more at give

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inhabit was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near inhabit

Cite this Entry

“Inhabit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhabit. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

inhabit

verb
in·​hab·​it in-ˈhab-ət How to pronounce inhabit (audio)
: to live or dwell in
inhabitable adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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