inflate
gb/ɪnflˈeɪt/ us/ɪnflˈeɪt/
B1
English
felfúj, eltúloz, felduzzaszt, felnagyít, felhajt, felfúvódik
VERB
B1
1
felfúj
A2
Usage pattern:
inflate [something] (with [air/gas])
Can you inflate the bicycle tires before we leave?
Fel tudod fújni a bicikligumikat, mielőtt elindulunk?
She inflated the balloon and tied it with a ribbon.
Felfújta a lufit, és szalagot kötött rá.
The life jacket inflates automatically when it hits the water.
Learner examples
I need to inflate this ball.
Fel kell fújnom ezt a labdát.
He inflated the tire with a pump.
Pumpával fújta fel a gumit.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse inflate (make bigger by filling with air) with expand (get bigger in general).
Meaning
fill with air or gas
Collocations
inflate a balloon
|inflate a tire
|inflate a tyre
|inflate an air mattress
|inflate a life jacket
|inflate a raft
|inflate a pool
|inflate with a pump
|inflate by mouth
|inflate to the recommended pressure
Synonyms
blow up (Common and informal for filling with air.)
|
pump up (Emphasizes using a pump, especially for tires.)
Antonyms
deflate (Let air out so it becomes less firm or smaller.)
Themes
daily_life
|objects
|transport
|sports
Definition
To put air into something so it gets bigger and firm.
To fill something with air or gas so that it becomes firm or larger.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
inflate [something] (by [amount/method])
The company was accused of inflating its earnings in order to attract investors.
A vállalatot azzal vádolták, hogy a befektetők vonzása érdekében felduzzasztotta a nyereségét.
Online reviews can inflate expectations and lead to disappointment.
Az online értékelések túlzott elvárásokat kelthetnek, ami csalódáshoz vezethet.
He inflated his role in the project when he talked to the client.
Learner examples
Don’t inflate the story.
Ne túlozd el a történetet.
She inflated her achievements on her résumé.
Eltúlozta az eredményeit az önéletrajzában.
Common mistake:
Don’t use inflate for normal growth (e.g., 'sales inflated' usually suggests exaggeration or artificial increase).
Meaning
make seem bigger than true
Collocations
inflate expectations
|inflate the figures
|inflate the numbers
|inflate a claim
|inflate a story
|inflate a report
|inflate costs
|inflate the importance
|inflate the risk
|inflate the problem
Synonyms
exaggerate (General term for making something sound bigger or worse.)
|
overstate (Often used in formal contexts like reports and arguments.)
Antonyms
downplay (Make something seem less important or serious than it is.)
|
understate (Describe something as less than it really is.)
Themes
communication
|business
|media
Definition
To exaggerate something; to make it look bigger or better than it is.
To make something seem larger, better, more important, or more serious than it really is.
VERB
B2
BUSINESS
3
felhajt
B2
felduzzaszt
C1
Usage pattern:
inflate [prices/costs/values]
The new fees will inflate the total cost of the trip.
Az új díjak felduzzasztják az utazás teljes költségét.
Speculation can inflate housing prices in popular areas.
A spekuláció felhajthatja a lakásárakat a népszerű környékeken.
Extra middlemen inflated the price of basic supplies.
Learner examples
High demand can inflate prices.
A nagy kereslet felhajthatja az árakat.
This tax will inflate costs.
Ez az adó növelni fogja a költségeket.
Common mistake:
Inflate is usually transitive here (inflate prices), while inflation is the general economic process.
Meaning
cause prices to rise
Collocations
inflate prices
|inflate costs
|inflate rents
|inflate property values
|inflate the value
|inflated prices
|inflated costs
|artificially inflate
|inflate the market
|inflate the price of
Synonyms
drive up (Emphasizes pushing something higher, often by external pressure.)
|
raise (Neutral term; may not imply artificiality.)
Antonyms
reduce (Make prices or costs lower.)
|
lower (Bring prices or costs down.)
Themes
business
|economics
|money
Definition
To make prices or costs go up, often too much.
To cause prices, costs, or values to rise, especially in a way seen as artificial or unjustified.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
felfúj
A2
felfúvódik
B2
Usage pattern:
inflate [organ/structure] | inflate [balloon/cuff] in [body part]
The doctor asked him to inflate his lungs fully for the test.
Az orvos megkérte, hogy a vizsgálathoz teljesen szívja tele levegővel a tüdejét.
The nurse inflated the cuff to measure his blood pressure.
A nővér felfújta a mandzsettát, hogy megmérje a vérnyomását.
During the procedure, a small balloon is inflated to widen the artery.
Meaning
swell by air or gas inside
Collocations
inflate the lungs
|inflate the stomach
|inflate a catheter balloon
|inflate the cuff
|inflate with air
|inflate with gas
Synonyms
distend (Medical term for swelling outward from internal pressure.)
|
expand (General term; less specifically about air or gas.)
Antonyms
collapse (Lose internal air/pressure and fall inward.)
|
deflate (Let air out of an inflated structure.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
To make part of the body swell by putting air or gas into it (medical).
To swell or become enlarged because air or gas is introduced or trapped inside, especially in a medical context.
Grammar
Dictionary form
inflate
IPA
GB/ɪnflˈeɪt/
US/ɪnflˈeɪt/
Syllables & stress
in - flate (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (flate)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: inflate
- 3rd Person Singular: inflates
- Present Participle: inflating
- Past: inflated
Word family
Expressions
inflate with pride
1/ɪnflˈeɪt wˈɪθ pɹˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
become visibly very proud
To feel very proud and show it.
Examples
- He inflated with pride when his name was announced.
- She inflated with pride at the praise from her boss.
- The parents inflated with pride as their daughter accepted the award.
Learner examples
- He inflated with pride.