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.

Recent Examples on the Web

In an ending that seemed pretty obvious, Michaela is cast aside, Simone has inherited her role, and Devon heads home. —Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

Alcaraz, who is deemed a protege of his fellow Spaniard, might inherit the title. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 8 June 2025

As superintendent, Cotton will be inheriting a number of issues years in the making — fiscal instability, the effects of massive budget cuts, teacher and staff shortages, trailing academic performances, shrinking student enrollment and capital improvement needs. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 6 June 2025

People who are staying with family members without a lease agreement, or who have inherited property informally, have long struggled to get federal help rebuilding after extreme weather, despite the fact that such families are less likely to have home insurance. —Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 5 June 2025

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

Rhymes for inherit

• demerit
• preterit
• buret
• carat
• ferret
• garret
• karat
• merit
• parrot
• disinherit

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