inherit

verb

in·her·it in-ˈher-ət

-ˈhe-rət

inherited; inheriting; inherits

transitive verb

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

: to receive as a devise or legacy

: to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission

inherit a defective enzyme

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

inherited the problem from his predecessor

: 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-

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web But what kind of world are these young people going to inherit? —

David Boynton, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2023 Distributions to beneficiaries who inherit a Roth IRA also are tax free. —

Bob Carlson, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Towards the close of her address, Queen Margrethe spoke about the joy her grandchildren bring her and the big year ahead for Prince Christian, who will inherit the Danish throne one day. —

Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 3 Jan. 2023 Under changes made in 2019, non-spousal beneficiaries — meaning children who are over the age of 18 — who inherit retirement accounts have to empty them within 10 years after the original accountholder dies (for deaths after 2019). —

Bloomberg News, oregonlive, 1 Jan. 2023 Who should rightfully inherit the throne of the legendary King Shaka Zulu? —

John Eligon, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022 The owner, Dean Wiltshire, commented that one day our kids will inherit the trailer. —

Whitney Spivey, Outside Online, 18 Jan. 2023 Warren Buffett, who has long pledged to donate more than 99% of his wealth to charitable causes, has also said his children will inherit little of his fortune, which Bloomberg now pegs at $111 billion. —

Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2023 The daughters will now inherit the mansion and its grounds, Elvis Presley Enterprises confirmed. —

Debra Kamin, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Jan. 2023 See More

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

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of inherit was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century