inhale
Inhale (verb) means to breathe air or another substance into the lungs. Example: “Inhale slowly through your nose, then exhale.”
How to use inhale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo breathe in — or, casually, to eat something really fast.
The "eat quickly" sense is informal and often used humorously.
Word forms
inhaled past tense, inhales plural, inhales singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ slowly through your nose, then exhale.
Etymology
From Latin inhalare, "to breathe on," from "in-" + halare ("to breathe").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for inhale
See all rhymes for inhale →Frequently asked questions
What does “inhale” mean?
The word “inhale” means to breathe air or another substance into the lungs. In plain terms, to breathe in — or, casually, to eat something really fast.
How do you pronounce “inhale”?
“Inhale” is pronounced ihn-HAYL (/ɪnˈheɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “inhale” in a sentence?
Here is “inhale” used in a sentence: “Inhale slowly through your nose, then exhale.”
What is the opposite of “inhale”?
The opposite of “inhale” — its antonyms — is exhale.
What part of speech is “inhale”?
“Inhale” is a verb.
Where does the word “inhale” come from?
The word “inhale” comes from Latin. From Latin inhalare, "to breathe on," from "in-" + halare ("to breathe").
Is “inhale” a common word?
“Inhale” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “inhale” have?
“Inhale” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to breathe air or another substance into the lungs.