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Synonyms

inherit

American  
[in-her-it] / ɪnˈhɛr ɪt /

verb (used with object)

  1. to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir.

    to inherit the family business.

  2. to receive as if by succession from predecessors.

    the problems the new government inherited from the previous administration.

  3. to receive (a genetic character or trait) by the transmission of hereditary factors.

  4. to succeed (a person) as heir.

  5. to receive as one's portion; come into possession of.

    to inherit his brother's old clothes.


verb (used without object)

  1. to take or receive property or the like by virtue of being heir to it.

  2. to receive qualities, powers, duties, etc., as by inheritance (followed byfrom ).

  3. to have succession as heir.

inherit British  
/ ɪnˈhɛrɪt /

verb

  1. to receive (property, a right, title, etc) by succession or under a will

  2. (intr) to succeed as heir

  3. (tr) to possess (a characteristic) through genetic transmission

  4. (tr) to receive (a position, attitude, property, etc) from a predecessor

"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

  • inherited adjective
  • inheritor noun
  • inheritress noun
  • preinherit verb (used with object)
  • reinherit verb

Etymology

Origin of inherit

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English en(h)erit(i)en, from Middle French enheriter, from Late Latin inhērēditāre “to make heir”; in- 3, hereditary

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.

"The age of 6.3 million years should be interpreted as a maximum age since some of the argon may have been inherited from the ancient rocks targeted by the impact," the researcher comments.

From Science Daily

This means the Galilean moons may have inherited organic material from two sources: the wider solar nebula and local chemical activity within Jupiter's own disk billions of years ago.

From Science Daily

The state’s high rate of inherited homes reflects California’s unique circumstances: years of skyrocketing home prices, and tax policies that encourage owners to avoid selling their houses before they die.

From The Wall Street Journal

If those same assets were in your estate, your beneficiaries will receive a step-up in basis on any assets they inherit.

From Barron's

My sister and I are his only family, the will is made and we would inherit his estate.

From MarketWatch