inhabit
gb/ɪnhˈæbɪt/ us/ɪnhˈæbɪt/
B2
Anglais
~ 9100
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
B2
action
1
live in or occupy a place
To live in a place, or to be the people or animals that live there.
Schéma d’usage :
to inhabit [a place]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes say *"inhabit in"* (e.g., *"Many animals inhabit in the forest"*). The verb "inhabit" does not take a preposition: say *"inhabit the forest"*. Learners also often use "inhabit" where simple "live" is more natural in everyday speech; "inhabit" is more formal and often used for groups, animals, or written descriptions.
Synonymes
live in (More common and general; less formal than "inhabit".)
|
occupy (Focuses more on filling space; can sound more neutral or technical.)
|
dwell in (More literary or old-fashioned than "inhabit".)
Antonymes
vacate (Means to leave a place empty that was previously inhabited.)
|
desert (Emphasizes leaving a place so it is no longer lived in.)
Collocations
inhabit an area
|inhabit a region
|inhabit the earth
|inhabit coastal waters
|inhabit the forest
|inhabit the city
Thèmes
geography
|environment
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
|housing
Exemples
- Millions of people inhabit the coastal regions of the country.
- Strange insects inhabit the caves deep below the mountain.
- Only a few families still inhabit the old village.
- Many rare bird species inhabit this wetland.
- The island was once inhabited by a small fishing community.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Over one million people inhabit this city.
- Polar bears inhabit the Arctic regions.
- Many animals inhabit the forest near my town.
- Different fish inhabit the lake all year.
- Only a few farmers inhabit that remote valley.
Verbe
literary
C1
state
2
exist or live within something abstract
To be strongly present in or to fill a non-physical thing, like a story, a role, or someone's mind.
Schéma d’usage :
to inhabit [a world/role/space]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may not realize this sense is more literary and abstract, and may try to use it in very casual contexts where "be in" or "fill" would be more natural. It is best reserved for writing or more expressive speech about stories, art, or the mind.
Synonymes
populate (Highlights being the people or things that fill a world, story, or space.)
|
pervade (Focuses more on spreading through something than on "living" in it.)
|
fill (Very general; lacks the "living" or ongoing presence nuance of "inhabit".)
Antonymes
empty (Suggests removing or lacking the beings or ideas that once inhabited a space.)
|
vacate (Implies leaving a role, space, or mental area that was previously inhabited.)
Collocations
inhabit a world
|inhabit a role
|inhabit a character
|inhabit the imagination
|inhabit a space
|inhabit a dream
Thèmes
art
|literature
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Exemples
- Her novels are inhabited by complex, unforgettable characters.
- Old fears still inhabit his dreams.
- The film invites us to inhabit the world of the main character.
- Memories of the war continue to inhabit her thoughts.
- The artist seems to inhabit each role he plays on stage.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Many strange ideas inhabit his mind.
- Strong feelings inhabit this short story.
- Childhood memories still inhabit her dreams.
- Colorful characters inhabit the book she wrote.
- The actor really inhabits the role of the hero.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
inhabit
API
GB/ɪnhˈæbɪt/
US/ɪnhˈæbɪt/
Syllabes et accentuation
in - hab - it (3 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (hab)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: inhabit
- 3rd Person Singular: inhabits
- Present Participle: inhabiting
- Past: inhabited
Famille de mots
Forms
inhabits
verb
inhabiting
verb
inhabited
verb
Core family
inhabitant
noun B2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
uninhabited
adjective
uninhabitable
adjective
Advanced or less common
habitation
noun B2
habitability
noun
Expressions
Aucune expression n’est encore associée à cette entrée.