inhale
ihn-HAYL
Inhale (verb) means to breathe air or another substance into the lungs. Example: “Inhale slowly through your nose, then exhale.”
verb
1
To breathe air or another substance into the lungs.
"Inhale slowly through your nose, then exhale."
"She inhaled the scent of fresh bread as she walked in."
2
(informal) To eat something very quickly.
"He inhaled his lunch in about two minutes flat."
How to use inhale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo breathe in — or, casually, to eat something really fast.
When to use it
The "eat quickly" sense is informal and often used humorously.
Common pairings
inhale deeply
inhale sharply
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Word forms
- Plural
- inhales
- Third person singular
- inhales
- Past tense
- inhaled
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 →
inspire
breathe in
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.
