inherit

verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət How to pronounce inherit (audio)
-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 lifeMatthew 19:29 (Revised Standard Version)

intransitive verb

: to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance
inheritor
in-ˈher-ə-tər How to pronounce inherit (audio)
-ˈhe-rə-
noun
inheritress
in-ˈher-ə-trəs How to pronounce inherit (audio)
-ˈhe-rə-
noun
or inheritrix

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 And yet, young women born into this world of relative freedom still inherit some of the same social conditioning as their forerunners. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 New shareholders would be inheriting ownership of a brand that many felt had turned stale. Byallie Garfinkle, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Imbert inherited Paris' most iconic hotel kitchen at the Plaza Athénée from Alain Ducasse in 2022. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 But while Medvedev inherited the chemodanchik (nuclear suitcase with launch codes) and the seat on the Russian equivalent of Air Force One, Putin remained the real power behind the throne and won a third term in 2012. Nathan Hodge, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Both had piercing blue eyes, inherited from their mother, Ella Friedman Oppenheimer, an artist with a malformed hand always hidden in a glove. Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 However, while this study suggests a correlation between drinking diet soda and developing atrial fibrillation, another study from 2017 found that people with European ancestry have a 22% risk of inheriting the condition. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Millennial women are also set to inherit a fair share. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 Their name and fame are inherited; so, too, the wealth. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inherit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near inherit

Cite this Entry

“Inherit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inherit. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inherit

verb
in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət How to pronounce inherit (audio)
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 noun

Medical Definition

inherit

transitive verb
in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət How to pronounce inherit (audio)
: to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission

Legal Definition

inherit

verb
in·​her·​it in-ˈher-it How to pronounce inherit (audio)

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

intransitive verb

: to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance
inheritor noun
Etymology

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

More from Merriam-Webster on inherit

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