Synonyms

inhale

American

[in-heyl] / ɪnˈheɪl /

verb (used with object)

inhaled, inhaling

to breathe in; draw in by breathing.

to inhale the polluted air.

verb (used without object)

inhaled, inhaling

to breathe in, especially the smoke of cigarettes, cigars, etc..

Do you inhale when you smoke?

inhale British

/ ɪnˈheɪl /

verb

to draw (breath) into the lungs; breathe in

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

uninhaled adjective

Etymology

Origin of inhale

First recorded in 1715–25; in- ² + (ex)hale

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Media reports in Singapore described a 19-year-old woman who died after inhaling three pearls while trying to suck through a partially blocked straw.

From Science Daily

"One of my most frequent tics is I clench my stomach and that makes me inhale air, which means that I'm constantly bloated," Smith says.

From BBC

When extensions are heated during styling, they can also release chemicals into the air that users may inhale.

From Science Daily

“I nail my mouth to the evil taste of lipstick, inhale the scent of someone else’s lipstick…”

From Salon

Standard methods evaluate how bioavailable these elements are, since certain concentrations can lead to kidney and heart problems, gastrointestinal discomfort, and lung damage if inhaled.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023