WordGarden.ioinhale
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnhˈeɪl/
US
- /ˌɪnˈheɪl/
Meanings
Verb
to breathe air or another gas into the lungs
to eat or consume something very quickly
Noun
an act of breathing in
Beyond the definition
When you inhale, you draw air into your lungs. It is the basic action of breathing in. You might pause and inhale deeply before speaking, running, or trying to relax.
The word is also often used in a more casual way. If someone says they "inhaled" their lunch, they mean they ate it very fast. It can also be used for smells, as when a baker inhales the sweet smell of fresh bread or a traveler inhales the cool sea air.
To inhale literally means to draw air or vapor into the lungs through the nose or mouth. It is the vital beginning of respiration. You might see it in a sentence like, "She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves before the big speech." This is the word's primary, biological function.
However, "inhale" also appears in everyday figurative language. It is often used to describe taking something in very quickly. This applies most commonly to food: "He was so late for practice that he inhaled his sandwich in three bites." In some contexts, it can also suggest taking in something eagerly, such as books, news, or new experiences.
The word is also common when people talk about smells and surroundings. To "inhale the scent of coffee" or "inhale the sea air" means more than the simple act of breathing. It suggests noticing the smell or atmosphere and taking it in fully.
The word comes from the Latin inhalare, meaning "to breathe upon." Although its core meaning is physical, it has developed wider everyday uses. It can describe breathing in, smelling something deeply, or eating something so fast that it seems to disappear at once.
Examples
- 1
Breathing instruction
Inhale slowly through your nose, then exhale through your mouth.
- 2
Smell
She closed her eyes and inhaled the smell of fresh coffee.
- 3
Smoke danger
You should leave the area immediately if you start to inhale too much smoke.
- 4
Medical use
The nurse showed him how to inhale the medicine from the inhaler.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sudden reaction
He inhaled sharply when he saw the bill.
- Phraseinhale sharply
suddenly take in air because of surprise, pain, or shock
- 6
Eating quickly
After soccer practice, the boys inhaled their sandwiches in the car.
- Usageinhale something
eat it very quickly, in informal English
See also
Similar
- breathe in
- draw in
- take in
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- exhale
- hold one's breath
Used with (collocations)
- inhale deeply
- inhale smoke
- inhale through the nose
- inhale medication
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- inhaleverb
Forms
- inhaledpast tenseverb
- inhaling-ing formverb
- inhalesverb