inhabit

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

Examples of inhabit in a Sentence

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

Nematodes are microscopic, thread-like roundworms that naturally inhabit the soil and serve as an effective organic pest control. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026

The attack took place in the municipality of Nahuatzen, a region inhabited by the Purepecha people where the powerful New Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) operates. —CBS News, 11 June 2026

The institutions created by the Constitution are set up to be functional, but they are also built to account for the kind of human beings who will inhabit them. —Jordan Cash, The Conversation, 8 June 2026

Historic cultural sites from Indigenous groups that have inhabited the area for centuries are reemerging, though wiped of any artifacts. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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