inflect

verb

in·​flect in-ˈflekt How to pronounce inflect (audio)
inflected; inflecting; inflects

transitive verb

1
: to vary (a word) by inflection : decline, conjugate
2
: to change or vary the pitch of
inflect one's voice
3
: to affect or alter noticeably : influence
an approach inflected by feminism
4
: to turn from a direct line or course : curve

intransitive verb

: to become modified by inflection
inflectable adjective
inflective adjective

Examples of inflect in a Sentence

Most nouns in English are inflected for plural use by adding “-s” or “-es.” Most nouns in English inflect for plural use by adding “-s” or “-es.” Most adjectives in English do not inflect for gender or number.
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.
So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time In retrospect, Soda never really sounded like Soda, as the trio’s restless identity kept morphing from album to album since the release of its new wave inflected 1984 debut. Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025 Yet, in the first quarter 2026, ended May 3, overall revenues were up 2% to $1.5 billion and same-store sales rose 2.5%, which Jefferies reports is the first time in 12 successive quarters that comp sales in North America inflected positive. Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 The Company expects a positive contribution from price throughout the year, with volumes inflecting positive in the second half of the year. John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 Those stereotypes inflect, word by word, what the model says. Jonathan L. Zittrain, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inflect

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin inflectere, from in- + flectere to bend

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

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

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Cite this Entry

“Inflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflect. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

inflect

verb
in·​flect in-ˈflekt How to pronounce inflect (audio)
1
: to change a word by inflection
2
: to change the pitch of the voice

More from Merriam-Webster on inflect

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