1 inhibit | Definition of inhibit
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inhibit

verb
in·​hib·​it | \ in-ˈhi-bÉ™t How to pronounce inhibit (audio) \
inhibited; inhibiting; inhibits

Definition of inhibit

transitive verb

1 : to prohibit from doing something
2a : to hold in check : restrain
b : to discourage from free or spontaneous activity especially through the operation of inner psychological or external social constraints

intransitive verb

: to cause inhibition
Other Words from inhibit Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about inhibit

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Other Words from inhibit

inhibitive \ in-​ˈhi-​bÉ™-​tiv How to pronounce inhibitive (audio) \ adjective
inhibitory \ in-​ˈhi-​bÉ™-​ËŒtȯr-​Ä“ How to pronounce inhibitory (audio) \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for inhibit

forbid, prohibit, interdict, inhibit mean to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done. forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected. smoking is forbidden in the building prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations. prohibited the sale of liquor interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose. practices interdicted by the church inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation. conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

Examples of inhibit in a Sentence

You shouldn't allow fear of failure to inhibit you. He was inhibited by modesty. Fear can inhibit people from expressing their opinions. drugs that are used to inhibit infection Strict laws are inhibiting economic growth.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The viewer’s brain deals with the competing stimuli by inhibiting one input and then the other. — Scientific American, "Visual Task May Offer Brain Marker for Autism," 19 Aug. 2019 Solanezumab works by inhibiting small fragments of an abnormal protein called amyloid. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "USC and UC San Diego try to move on after painful fight over Alzheimer’s institute," 18 Aug. 2019 The hope centered around two popular biologic drugs — Enbrel and Remicade — that work by inhibiting TNF, a protein produced by immune cells and other cells in the body that cause inflammation. — John Fauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Researchers hoped these drugs could reverse heart failure. Instead, patients' risk of death rose.," 18 July 2019 Injected under the skin by way of a prefilled syringe, the drug—technically, a human antibody (more on that detail soon)—works by inhibiting a key protein that’s central to inflammation, a process that’s implicated in a number of pathologies. — Fortune, "Protect at All Costs: How the Maker of the World’s Bestselling Drug Keeps Prices Sky-High," 18 July 2019 Bears are less inhibited about entering villages in broad daylight if there are few folk around, Mr Enari says. — The Economist, "In Japan, fewer people means more animals," 11 July 2019 The frontotemporal cortex, which controls our higher cognitive abilities and is inhibited during normal dreams, shows higher activation during lucid dreams. — Achilleas Pavlou, Quartz, "A lucid dream researcher’s tips for controlling your dreams," 29 June 2019 The plant can grow up to up to 14 feet, creating a lot of shade in the area and inhibiting the growth of native species. — Travis Fedschun, Fox News, "Invasive plant that causes 3rd-degree burns, permanent blindness discovered in Virginia," 18 June 2018 Scientists had long known that high levels of estrogen and progesterone effectively inhibited ovulation. — Robert D. Mcfadden, BostonGlobe.com, "George Rosenkranz, a developer of the birth control pill, dies at 102," 26 June 2019

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

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First Known Use of inhibit

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for inhibit

Middle English, from Latin inhibitus, past participle of inhibēre, from in- in- entry 2 + habēre to have — more at habit entry 1

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More Definitions for inhibit

inhibit

verb
How to pronounce inhibit (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of inhibit

: to keep (someone) from doing what he or she wants to do
: to prevent or slow down the activity or occurrence of (something)

See the full definition for inhibit in the English Language Learners Dictionary

inhibit

verb
in·​hib·​it | \ in-ˈhi-bÉ™t How to pronounce inhibit (audio) \
inhibited; inhibiting

Kids Definition of inhibit

: to prevent or hold back from doing something Shyness inhibited her in making new friends.

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