WordGarden.ioinhibit
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnhˈɪbɪt/
US
- /ˌɪnˈhɪbət/
Meanings
Verb
to prevent, slow, or hold back an action or process
to make someone feel restrained or unable to act freely
to reduce or block a biological or chemical activity
Beyond the definition
Imagine a shy artist hesitant to share their work because something is holding them back. To inhibit means to hold something back, restrain it, or keep it from moving forward freely. This "something" could be a mental barrier like fear, a physical obstacle, or even a chemical process. For example, a medicine might inhibit the growth of bacteria, while social anxiety can keep someone from speaking up in a group. Think of it like applying the brakes: it slows things down or stops them altogether.
To inhibit something means to hinder, restrain, or slow down its progress, development, or action. It suggests an underlying obstruction that prevents full expression or function. The term is rooted in the Latin inhibere, which literally means "to hold back."
In everyday contexts, you might say a lack of funding inhibits scientific research, thereby preventing important discoveries. On a personal level, a fear of failure often inhibits creativity, stopping people from taking the risks necessary to explore new ideas.
The word also carries specific weight in scientific fields. In biology and chemistry, an inhibitor is a substance that slows or stops a reaction; for instance, a drug might inhibit viral replication within the body.
While inhibit is a verb, the noun form inhibition is equally common. In psychology, it refers to a mental state of self-consciousness or restraint that prevents a person from acting naturally. If someone is described as "lacking inhibition," it means they are behaving in a very open, unreserved, or spontaneous manner.
Whether the context is physical, emotional, or chemical, to inhibit is to keep something from reaching its full potential by slowing, restraining, or preventing its progress.
Examples
- 1
Conversation anxiety
Fear of saying the wrong thing inhibited her from joining the conversation.
- Patterninhibit someone from doing X
make it harder for them to do X
- 2
Creativity
Too many rules can inhibit creativity.
- 3
Physical ability
The injury inhibited his ability to walk without pain.
- Patterninhibit someone's ability to do X
limit how well they can do X
- 4
Plant growth
These chemicals can inhibit plant growth.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Drug action
The drug works by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- inhibitverb
Forms
- inhibitsverb
- inhibitedpast tenseverb
- inhibiting-ing formverb