What does "inherit" mean?
To receive (property, a title, etc.), by legal succession or bequest after the previous owner's death.
Inherit
/ɪnˈhɛɹɪt/ verb
verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To receive (property, a title, etc.), by legal succession or bequest after the previous owner's death.
- Grammar: inherit is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: acceding, acquire, acquire traits, adopt.
- Useful contrasts: disinheriting, escheat, leaving.
- Usage evidence: In the case of language, however, it is only the ability to talk and understand that we inherit genetically; the particular language or languages that we speak are passed on to us not by genetic transmission but by cultural transmission.
How to use "inherit"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "inherit" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "inherit" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "inherit" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "inherit" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "inherit" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acceding" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "inherit", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To receive (property, a title, etc.), by legal succession or bequest after the previous owner's death. transitive
"After Grandad died, I inherited the house."
- 2 obtain from someone after their death wordnet
- 3 To receive (property, a title, etc.), by legal succession or bequest after the previous owner's death.; To come into an inheritance. intransitive, transitive
"Lucky old Daniel – his grandfather died rich, and he's inherited."
- 4 receive by genetic transmission wordnet
- 5 To take possession of as a right (especially in Biblical translations). transitive
"Your descendants will inherit the earth."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 receive from a predecessor wordnet
- 7 To receive a characteristic from one's ancestors by genetic transmission. transitive
"Let's hope the baby inherits his mother's looks and his father's intelligence."
- 8 To derive from people or conditions previously in force. transitive
"This country has inherited an invidious class culture."
- 9 To derive (existing functionality) from a superclass. transitive
"ModalWindow inherits all the properties and methods of Window."
- 10 To derive a new class from (a superclass). transitive
"For example, the following two code segments, from different assemblies, show how easy it is to inherit a class from another assembly."
- 11 To put in possession of. obsolete, transitive
"This, or else nothing, will inherit her"
Example
"In the case of language, however, it is only the ability to talk and understand that we inherit genetically; the particular language or languages that we speak are passed on to us not by genetic transmission but by cultural transmission."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "inherit"?
Common synonyms include: acceding, acquire, acquire traits, adopt, assume, born.
How do you use "inherit" in a sentence?
In the case of language, however, it is only the ability to talk and understand that we inherit genetically; the particular language or languages that we speak are passed on to us not by genetic transmission but by cultural transmission.
How do you pronounce "inherit"?
Pronounced /ɪnˈhɛɹɪt/.
Etymology
From Middle English enheriten, from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare (“make heir”). Displaced native Old English ierfan.