inhabit

verb

in·​hab·​it in-ˈha-bət 

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 tale

—Al Newman

intransitive verb

archaic : to have residence in a place : dwell

inhabitable

in-ˈha-bə-tə-bəl 

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

The place is inhabited by a rotating roster of friends, friends of friends, and family members. —André Wheeler, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024

Scientists have identified more than 700 species of leeches, some of which live on land and some that primarily inhabit water. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 June 2024

The closest species of the other gars, A. spatula (known as Alligator Gar), inhabits eastern North America. —Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024

In the United States, the peak years for respect are generally whatever age Taylor Swift currently inhabits, which I’m informed is 34 years old. —Peter Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 19 June 2024

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

Kids Definition

inhabit

verb

in·​hab·​it in-ˈhab-ət 

: to live or dwell in

inhabitable

-ət-ə-bəl 

adjective