inflate

[ in-fleyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·flat·ed, in·flat·ing.

1. to distend; swell or puff out; dilate:

   The king cobra inflates its hood.

   Antonyms: deflate

2. to cause to expand or distend with air or gas:

   to inflate a balloon.

3. to puff up with pride, satisfaction, etc.
4. to elate.
5. Economics. to expand (money, prices, an economy, etc.) unduly in amount, value, or size; affect with inflation.

verb (used without object)

, in·flat·ed, in·flat·ing.

1. to become inflated.
2. to increase, especially suddenly and substantially:

   The $10 subscription has inflated to $25.

inflate

/ ɪnˈfleɪt /

verb

1. to expand or cause to expand by filling with gas or air

   she needed to inflate the tyres

2. tr to cause to increase excessively; puff up; swell

   to inflate one's opinion of oneself

3. tr to cause inflation of (prices, money, etc)
4. tr to raise in spirits; elate
5. intr to undergo economic inflation

Derived Forms

• inˈflatedly, adverb
• inˈflater, noun
• inˈflatedness, noun

Other Words From

• in·flater in·flator noun
• over·in·flate verb (used with object) overinflated overinflating
• rein·flate verb reinflated reinflating

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflate¹

First recorded in 1500–20; from Latin inflātus, past participle of inflāre “to blow on or into, puff out,” equivalent to in- in- ² + flā- blow ² + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflate¹

C16: from Latin inflāre to blow into, from flāre to blow

Synonym Study

See expand.

Example Sentences

According to prosecutors, Smith-Griffin orchestrated “a deliberate and calculated scheme to deceive investors in AllHere Education, Inc., inflating the company’s financials to secure millions of dollars under false pretenses.”

From Los Angeles Times

But for many years, under previous governments, some of its profits never reached the treasury as it was accused by state governors and federal lawmakers of including these inflated subsidy costs on its balance sheet.

From BBC

Ms. Jacobs said that the law school had also artificially inflated its faculty by counting guest speakers among them.

From New York Times

Spending pledges risked inflating some prices, something high interest rates are designed to control.

From BBC

“They collapse suddenly and then inflate and collapse suddenly — that was kind of the basis of the choreography,” Oppenheimer recalls.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• augment
• bloat
• boost
• enlarge
• escalate
• exaggerate
• expand
• magnify
• maximize
• overestimate
• pad
• widen