inflate

verb

in·​flate in-ˈflāt How to pronounce inflate (audio)
inflated; inflating

transitive verb

1
: to swell or distend with air or gas
2
: to puff up : elate
inflate one's ego
3
: to expand or increase abnormally or imprudently
inflator noun
or inflater
Choose the Right Synonym for inflate

expand, amplify, swell, distend, inflate, dilate mean to increase in size or volume.

expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

Examples of inflate in a Sentence

We used a pump to inflate the raft. Economists warn that rapid economic growth could inflate prices. Increased competition has inflated salaries among professional athletes. Rapid economic growth may cause prices to inflate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More cars mean more accidents, and more accidents lead to more lawsuits which always inflates the cost of claims. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 Unrolling and inflating takes less than two minutes. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025 Entner endorsed a return to the goal of adding and keeping customers instead of trying to inflate the average revenue from each of them. PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2025 The Michigan House voted nearly unanimously in June to approve legislation aimed at cracking down on bots that purchase tickets in bulk, inflating demand and resale prices. Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inflate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin inflatus, past participle of inflare, from in- + flare to blow — more at blow

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inflate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inflate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

inflate

verb
in·​flate in-ˈflāt How to pronounce inflate (audio)
inflated; inflating
1
: to swell or fill with air or gas
inflate a balloon
2
: to increase abnormally
inflated prices
inflatable
-ə-bəl
adjective

Medical Definition

inflate

verb
in·​flate in-ˈflāt How to pronounce inflate (audio)
inflated; inflating

transitive verb

: to swell or distend with air or gas
inflate the lungs
inflation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on inflate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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