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

Much of the island is protected by Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, a pristine patch of reef and rainforest inhabited by monkeys, sloths, sea turtles, rare bird species, and more than 80 types of coral. — Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

When asked what kind of film the house would inhabit, architect Sultan Alqasimi knows right away. — Mona Basharat, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026

An ode to the original artists who inhabited the rooftop lofts, this offering is an innovative treatment that blends traditional Chinese medicine and contemporary practices to offer clarity and untapped access to our artistic channels. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026

Set in Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future inhabited by aliens and humans as seen from a 1939 perspective, the film revolves around private eye Raymond Gunn (Rockwell) who is drawn into a case involving murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 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