inhale

verb

in·​hale in-ˈhāl How to pronounce inhale (audio)
inhaled; inhaling

transitive verb

1
: to draw in by breathing
2
: to take in eagerly or greedily
inhaled about four meals at onceRing Lardner

intransitive verb

: to breathe in
inhale
in-ˈhāl How to pronounce inhale (audio)
ˈin-ˌhāl
noun

Examples of inhale in a Sentence

This medicine can now be inhaled. She inhaled the fresh country air. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, trying to relax. After inhaling their dinner, the children ran out the door without even saying goodbye.
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 bacteria can also be carried by larger animals, like rabbits or outdoor pets, or inhaled if infected animal particles become airborne, according to county health officials. Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024 The drug is routinely used by doctors during surgeries, and overdoses typically involve smoking, injecting, or inhaling illicit fentanyl. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024 Aaron died after drowning due to inhaling difluoroethane and taking alprazolam Back in June, Angel revealed on The Squeeze podcast that her sister Leslie’s death prepared her for Aaron’s death due to his years-long cycle of addiction. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024 Otherwise, the instinct is to inhale and hold the breath—for example, while climbing stairs. Matt Fuchs, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inhale 

Word History

Etymology

in- + exhale

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inhale was in 1725

Dictionary Entries Near inhale

Cite this Entry

“Inhale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhale. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

inhale

verb
in·​hale in-ˈhā(ə)l How to pronounce inhale (audio)
inhaled; inhaling
1
: to draw in by breathing
2
: to breathe in

Medical Definition

inhale

verb
in·​hale in-ˈhā(ə)l How to pronounce inhale (audio)
inhaled; inhaling

transitive verb

: to draw in by breathing

intransitive verb

: to breathe in

More from Merriam-Webster on inhale

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!