inherit
ihn-HEH-riht
Inherit (verb) means to receive money, property, or a title from someone after they die. Example: “She inherited the family farm from her grandmother.”
verb
1
To receive money, property, or a title from someone after they die.
"She inherited the family farm from her grandmother."
2
To receive a trait or quality from a parent or ancestor.
"He inherited his father's sharp sense of humor."
3
(computing) To take on properties or behavior from another class or system.
"The subclass inherits all the methods of its parent class."
How to use inherit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo receive something — money, property, a trait, or in programming, functionality — passed down from before you.
Common pairings
inherit money
inherit traits
inherit from a class
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- inherits
- Past tense
- inherited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ the family farm from her grandmother.
Etymology
From Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare, "to make an heir."
Related words
Rhymes for inherit
See all rhymes for inherit →Frequently asked questions
What does “inherit” mean?
The word “inherit” means to receive money, property, or a title from someone after they die. In plain terms, to receive something — money, property, a trait, or in programming, functionality — passed down from before you.
How do you pronounce “inherit”?
“Inherit” is pronounced ihn-HEH-riht (/ɪnˈhɛɹɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “inherit” in a sentence?
Here is “inherit” used in a sentence: “She inherited the family farm from her grandmother.”
What part of speech is “inherit”?
“Inherit” is a verb.
Where does the word “inherit” come from?
The word “inherit” comes from Late Latin. From Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare, "to make an heir.".
Is “inherit” a common word?
“Inherit” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “inherit” have?
“Inherit” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to receive money, property, or a title from someone after they die.
