inhale

verb

in·​hale in-ˈhāl 

inhaled; inhaling

transitive verb

1

: to draw in by breathing

2

: to take in eagerly or greedily

inhaled about four meals at once

—Ring Lardner

intransitive verb

: to breathe in

inhale

in-ˈhāl 

ˈin-ˌhāl

noun

Synonyms

• bolt
• cram
• devour
• glut [archaic]
• gobble
• gorge
• gormandize
• gulp
• ingurgitate
• raven
• scarf
• scoff
• slop
• wolf

Examples of inhale in a Sentence

This medicine can now be inhaled.

She inhaled the fresh country air.

He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, trying to relax.

After inhaling their dinner, the children ran out the door without even saying goodbye.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two men have reportedly died after inhaling bat guano used to grow marijuana, raising concerns about the safety of natural bat guano and commercially available fertilizers. —Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Those pollutants, often from fireplace smoke and fireworks, are small enough to be inhaled and enter the bloodstream, endangering residents and especially those with respiratory or heart problems. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024

Essential oils Essential oils can be toxic to pets, leading to health problems when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. —Sara Hansen, The Denver Post, 13 Dec. 2024

If yours does, press it, then inhale through the mouthpiece. —Amplified Content Studio, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

in- + exhale

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

inhale

verb

in·​hale in-ˈhā(ə)l 

inhaled; inhaling

1

: to draw in by breathing

2

: to breathe in

Medical Definition

inhale

verb

in·​hale in-ˈhā(ə)l 

inhaled; inhaling

transitive verb

: to draw in by breathing

intransitive verb

: to breathe in