inhabit

[ in-hab-it ]

verb (used with object)

1. to live or dwell in (a place), as people or animals:

   Small animals inhabited the woods.

   Synonyms: populate, tenant, occupy, reside

2. to exist or be situated within; dwell in:

   Weird notions inhabit his mind.

   Synonyms: populate, tenant, occupy, reside

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic. to live or dwell, as in a place.

inhabit

/ ɪnˈhæbɪt /

verb

1. tr to live or dwell in; occupy
2. archaic.
   intr to abide or dwell

Derived Forms

• inˌhabiˈtation, noun
• inˌhabitaˈbility, noun
• inˈhabitable, adjective

Other Words From

• in·hab·it·a·ble adjective
• in·hab·i·ta·tion noun
• pre·in·hab·it verb (used with object)
• pre·in·hab·i·ta·tion noun
• re·in·hab·it verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabit¹

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin inhabitāre, equivalent to in- in- ² + habitāre “to dwell” ( habit ² ); replacing Middle English enhabiten, from Middle French enhabiter, from Latin as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabit¹

C14: from Latin inhabitāre, from habitāre to dwell

Example Sentences

A UK-based monitoring group put the death toll at 41 and reported that the strikes hit a warehouse used to store weapons and homes inhabited by families of Iran-backed militia fighters.

From BBC

The messages were straightforward and concise, although many elected officials who inhabit Sacramento’s political cocoon tend to be tone-deaf to voices that don’t emanate from large campaign donors and special interests.

From Los Angeles Times

The rapper displayed confident looseness on Saturday that only a veteran can truly inhabit on a stage in front of thousands of festivalgoers.

From Los Angeles Times

Mountain lions prefer to avoid people, but in a metro area of more than 18 million people, natural areas inhabited by mountain lions and other wildlife are also heavily used by recreationists.

From Science Daily

Sierra Club founder John Muir rhapsodized about the purity of wilderness, supporting the push to protect Yosemite’s lands from the “dirty” influence of the native tribes who inhabited it.

From Salon

Related Words

• locate
• occupy
• populate
• possess
• reside