inflect

verb in·flect \ in-ˈflekt \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of inflect

transitive verb

1 : to turn from a direct line or course : curve

2 : to vary (a word) by inflection : decline, conjugate

3 : to change or vary the pitch of

inflect one's voice

4 : to affect or alter noticeably : influence

an approach inflected by feminism

intransitive verb

: to become modified by inflection

—

inflectable

play \in-ˈflek-tə-bəl\ adjective

—

inflective

play \in-ˈflek-tiv\ adjective

See inflect defined for English-language learners

See inflect defined for kids

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 of inflect from the Web

His love comes out all wrong, inflected by a subtle ablism.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Sight and Silence," 11 Apr. 2018
Within its paradigm, you are meant to improve yourself (or perhaps, in the current, Silicon Valley–inflected jargon, self-optimize) within a larger context that is insistent, immutable, inevitable.

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "Tony Robbins, #MeToo, and the Limits of Self-Help," 9 Apr. 2018
His eyes sparkle like his beaded Versace sweater and his voice is inflected with charismatic enthusiasm.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince Royce on His Newest Album and the Importance of Latin Music in Today's Political Climate," 27 Mar. 2017
His camo print is especially effective on a sports-inflected parka, intended for the street, not the slopes.

— Vogue, "From Mongolia, House of Od Offers Streetwear for Clued-In Types the World Over," 14 Jan. 2018
This is a perfectly predictable outgrowth of an Ayn Rand–inflected movement.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Donald Trump’s Presidency Is the Libertarian Moment," 29 Jan. 2018
As with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, thematic development took precedence over the Scottish-inflected tunes.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "Philadelphia Orchestra does Scotland with poetic subtlety (and one bagpipe)," 19 Jan. 2018
The best Chakrabarti can do to inflect this sweeping political narrative is to let the audience hear an angry crowd outside early in the play, never to be heard from again.

— justin hayford, Chicago Reader, "Red Velvet is a singular anti-achievement," 13 Dec. 2017
But the production has an unmistakably Trump-inflected logic.

— sascha stanton-craven, Slate Magazine, "The Trump Administration Is Stealing Our Jokes," 21 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inflect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of inflect

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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INFLECT Defined for English Language Learners

inflect

verb

Definition of inflect for English Language Learners

grammar : to change the form of a word when using it in a particular way

INFLECT Defined for Kids

inflect

verb in·flect \ in-ˈflekt \

Definition of inflect for Students

inflected; inflecting

1 : to change a word by inflection

2 : to change the pitch of the voice

Learn More about inflect

See words that rhyme with inflect Spanish Central: Translation of inflect Nglish: Translation of inflect for Spanish speakers

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inflect

Definition of inflect

inflectable

inflective

Examples of inflect in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of inflect

INFLECT Defined for English Language Learners

inflect

Definition of inflect for English Language Learners

INFLECT Defined for Kids

inflect

Definition of inflect for Students

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Definition of inflect

inflectable

inflective

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Origin and Etymology of inflect

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inflect

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