inhabit

1 of 2

verb

in·​hab·​it in-ˈha-bət 

inhabited; inhabiting; inhabits

transitive verb

1

: to occupy as a place of settled residence or habitat : live in

inhabit a small house

2

: to be present in or occupy in any manner or form

… the human beings who inhabit this tale …

—Al Newman

intransitive verb

archaic : to have residence in a place : dwell

inhabitable

in-ˈha-bə-tə-bəl 

adjective

inhabiter noun

inhabiter

2 of 2

noun

in·​hab·​it·​er

ə̇nˈhabə̇tə(r), 

-ə̇tə-

plural -s

archaic

: one that inhabits

Examples of inhabit in a Sentence

Verb

Several hundred species of birds inhabit the island.

This part of the country is inhabited by native tribes.

There is a romantic quality that inhabits all her paintings.

The novel is inhabited by a cast of eccentric characters.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Titanosaurs inhabited Antarctica 80 million years ago when it was covered in lush forest. — CBS News, 30 June 2026

However, Vardi and his colleague Ron Shimelmitz, an associate professor in archaeology at the University of Haifa, have now discovered that it was inhabited up to 400,000 years ago. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

According to environmental nonprofit Miami Waterkeepers, threatened staghorn coral and queen conch inhabit an area near the Sand Bypass that is vulnerable to sediment plumes set off by the dredge. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026

Locals point to a house on the corner nearby, previously inhabited by individuals linked to the cartel. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English enhabiten, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French inhabiter, enhabiter, from Latin inhabitare, from in- + habitare to dwell, frequentative of habēre to have — more at give

Noun

Middle English enhabiter, inhabiter, from enhabiten, inhabiten to inhabit + -er

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for inhabit

• cohabit
• jackrabbit
• abbot
• habit
• rabbit
• sabot
• shabbat

Kids Definition

inhabit

verb

in·​hab·​it in-ˈhab-ət 

: to live or dwell in

inhabitable

-ət-ə-bəl 

adjective