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 Eric Wolfhard and Mary Jolivet always supported Finn Wolfhard’s career in entertainment Finn Wolfhard inherited his love of the performing arts from his parents, Eric Wolfhard and Mary Jolivet. Ilana Frost, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 My family inherited a property on Lake Ontario from my wife’s parents. David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 The item was inherited by Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani), who just wants to cash in on his grandmother’s collection but reluctantly gets drawn into the plot. Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 As a Black woman from the South, many of her not-so-healthy habits were inherited and, for the first half of my life, passed down to me as well. Deanna Taylor, Essence, 20 Mar. 2024 The farm life simulation game takes players on a journey of inheriting the family farm and forging their own path in Stardew Valley. The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 After a decades-long probate process, they were eventually inherited by Strasberg’s third wife, Anna, who licensed the actress’s image liberally and enlisted Christie’s to sell the possessions. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Willis’ prosecution of Trump When she was elected to the DA position, Willis inherited a backlog of more than 16,000 cases, in part because of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 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

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 28 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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