inherit

verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət 

-ˈhe-rət

inherited; inheriting; inherits

transitive verb

1

a

: to receive from an ancestor as a right or title descendible by law at the ancestor's death

b

: to receive as a devise or legacy

2

: to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission

inherit a defective enzyme

3

: to have in turn or receive as if from an ancestor

inherited the problem from his predecessor

4

: to come into possession of or receive especially as a right or divine portion

and every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters … for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life

—Matthew 19:29 (Revised Standard Version)

intransitive verb

: to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance

inheritor

in-ˈher-ə-tər 

-ˈhe-rə-

noun

inheritress

in-ˈher-ə-trəs 

-ˈhe-rə-

noun

or inheritrix

in-ˈher-ə-(ˌ)triks 

-ˈhe-rə-

Examples of inherit in a Sentence

She inherited the family business from her father.

Baldness is inherited from the mother's side of the family.

She inherited her father's deep blue eyes.

She inherited a love of baseball from her dad.

When my brother left for college, I inherited his old computer.

The company's new president will inherit some complicated legal problems.

When the coach quit, her assistant inherited a last-place team.

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Recent Examples on the Web

After Henry’s death, her surviving nieces inherited her fortune and allegedly faded into obscurity after running through her funds. —Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023

Her second son, Edward, was awarded another property, and her third son, Ted White Jr., inherited a house in Detroit. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 29 Nov. 2023

Ian’s widow inherited a contract that said Spinal Tap owed them one more concert. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Nov. 2023

Getty Images Upon the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, inherited the tiara. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023

An illness inherited The attack, below the turrets of Bloomingdale’s rehabbed Victorian-style rowhouses, has renewed a debate about policing and the intersection of crime, homelessness and mental health treatment in the nation’s capital. —Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023

Understanding how modern species evolved can teach plant scientists about how different traits are inherited, and how to effectively breed for them in the future. —Serina Desalvio, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2023

Traditionally, the job was inherited—and gatekept Like most in the industry, Michael and Conor Cooney’s funeral home in Chicago has been passed down from one generation to the next for over 100 years. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2023

While Olympia appears to have inherited her mom's tennis talent, the 6-year-old isn't quite as big of a fan of the game as the rest of her family. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English enheriten "to give (a person) right of inheritance, make (a person) heir, come into possession of as an heir," borrowed from Anglo-French enheriter, going back to Late Latin inhērēditāre "to appoint as heir," from Latin in- in- entry 2 + Late Latin hērēditāre "to leave as an inheritance, inherit, make an heir" — more at heritage

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Kids Definition

inherit

verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət 

1

: to receive by legal right from a person at the person's death

2

: to receive by genetic transmission

inherit red hair

3

: to have handed on to one by someone else

inherit a job

inheritable

-ət-ə-bəl

adjective

inheritor

-ət-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

inherit

transitive verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət 

: to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission

Legal Definition

inherit

verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-it 

transitive verb

1

: to receive (property) from an estate by operation of the laws of intestacy

broadly : to receive (property) either by will or through intestate succession

2

: succeed

intransitive verb

: to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance

inheritor

in-ˈher-i-tər 

noun

Etymology

Middle French enheriter to make one an heir, from Late Latin inhereditare, from Latin in- in + hereditas inheritance