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 by from ).
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

Derived Forms

• inˈheritress, noun:feminine
• inˈheritor, noun
• inˈherited, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·in·her·it verb (used with object)
• re·in·her·it verb

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

A bill making its way through Parliament would abolish the 92 seats reserved for peers who inherit their titles through their families.

From BBC

When you name a beneficiary, you’re saying that you give legal approval for that person to inherit the assets of the specific account.

From Salon

“In order to prevent this, an unmarried couple needs to sign Power of Attorney documents, a Patient Advocate, and a will, at minimum, to establish that their partner should be the one to act on their behalf in the event of their incapacity or death, and that the partner should inherit their property,” said Fresard.

From Salon

I know you hugged your daughters and wondered, What kind of world can she inherit when this country hates her so much for merely having a body?

From Slate

When a 42-year-old politician, active on social media, can slap a taxi driver - three times - on camera without a second thought, it forces us to wonder if the younger generation of politicians are simply waiting to inherit, rather than break, the cycle of privilege, whether they truly want a fresh start or are just waiting for their turn to wield power without any restraint.

From BBC

Related Words

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