in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural inventories
1
a
: an itemized list of current assets: such as
(1)
: a list of goods on hand
(2)
: a catalog of the property of an individual or estate
b
: a list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities used to evaluate personal characteristics or skills
c
: a survey of natural resources
2
: the quantity of goods or materials on hand : stock
3
: the act or process of taking an inventory
Synonyms
Examples of inventory in a Sentence
Noun
We made an inventory of the library's collection.
The dealer keeps a large inventory of used cars and trucks.
Inventories at both stores were low.
How can a small business afford to keep so much inventory?
We'll be doing inventory on the collection soon.
Verb
We'll be inventorying the collection soon.
would you inventory the supplies in the back room?
Recent Examples on the Web
Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
So, keep reading to find the 10 best deals available right now, but don’t wait too long because inventory is already running low.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Ford, concerned about backlash at the time, notified dealers that bad actors risked having inventory withheld.
—Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
On the plus side, inventory has returned to levels not seen since 2019.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Factors included the impact of COVID-19, shifting consumer demands, inflation and rising shrinkage levels such as loss of inventory or cash due to theft, damage or administrative errors.
—The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Now that inventories are rising, car companies are doling out more incentives and prices are starting to slip.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
By connecting local retail inventory and climate-neutral last mile delivery service in one digital place, HomeRide provides the next generation of on-demand consumer services.
—Marianne Lehnis, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Low housing inventory and persistently high mortgage rates are only further complicating an already-difficult market.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024
The Post did not inventory all of the files: Some could not be found, and The Post did not review about 300 created after 1958 that are stored at the Natural History Museum.
—Nicole Dungca, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
They are trusted to accurately inventory all valuables in their court report.
—Mary Jordan, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2023
When operational, the Rubin Observatory will help astronomers inventory the solar system, map the Milky Way, and shed light on dark matter and dark energy.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Jan. 2024
One by one, family members and friends speak this line to Vanya before inventorying their own monumental unhappiness.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023
In 1998, Karen Mudar was told by her boss at the Smithsonian Institution to inventory the human brains that one of its anthropologists had amassed in the early 20th century.
—Claire Healy, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
The law initially required institutions to inventory the human remains and belongings of Native American ancestors and burial items and identify those that might be repatriated.
—Mary Hudetz, ProPublica, 8 Dec. 2023
Djuna would see right to their core, inventory their paltry souls, and make these findings known.
—Emma Cline, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
Noun
Not a very large inventory like online florists typically do
Ultimately, the go-to place for buying a beautiful bouquet will depend on a person’s own preferences or personal situation, of course.
—Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
So, keep reading to find the 10 best deals available right now, but don’t wait too long because inventory is already running low.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Ford, concerned about backlash at the time, notified dealers that bad actors risked having inventory withheld.
—Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2024
On the plus side, inventory has returned to levels not seen since 2019.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Factors included the impact of COVID-19, shifting consumer demands, inflation and rising shrinkage levels such as loss of inventory or cash due to theft, damage or administrative errors.
—The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Now that inventories are rising, car companies are doling out more incentives and prices are starting to slip.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
By connecting local retail inventory and climate-neutral last mile delivery service in one digital place, HomeRide provides the next generation of on-demand consumer services.
—Marianne Lehnis, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Low housing inventory and persistently high mortgage rates are only further complicating an already-difficult market.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Early efforts intensified after the 1989 passage of the National Museum of the American Indian Act, which requires the Smithsonian to inventory its Native American human remains and repatriate them upon request.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024
The Post did not inventory all of the files: Some could not be found, and The Post did not review about 300 created after 1958 that are stored at the Natural History Museum.
—Nicole Dungca, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
They are trusted to accurately inventory all valuables in their court report.
—Mary Jordan, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2023
When operational, the Rubin Observatory will help astronomers inventory the solar system, map the Milky Way, and shed light on dark matter and dark energy.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Jan. 2024
One by one, family members and friends speak this line to Vanya before inventorying their own monumental unhappiness.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023
In 1998, Karen Mudar was told by her boss at the Smithsonian Institution to inventory the human brains that one of its anthropologists had amassed in the early 20th century.
—Claire Healy, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
The law initially required institutions to inventory the human remains and belongings of Native American ancestors and burial items and identify those that might be repatriated.
—Mary Hudetz, ProPublica, 8 Dec. 2023
Djuna would see right to their core, inventory their paltry souls, and make these findings known.
—Emma Cline, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inventory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inventory
Cite this Entry
“Inventory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inventory. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inventory
1 of 2 noun
in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
plural inventories
1
: a complete list of items (as of goods on hand)
2
: the stock of goods on hand
3
: the act or process of making an inventory
inventory
2 of 2 verb
inventoried; inventorying
: to make an inventory of
Medical Definition
inventory
noun
in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-
plural inventories
1
: a questionnaire designed to provide an index of individual interests or personality traits
2
: a list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities that is used in evaluating personal characteristics or skills
Legal Definition
inventory
noun
in·ven·to·ry
ˈin-vən-ˌtōr-ē
plural inventories
1
: an itemized list of current assets: as
a
: a written list or catalog of the property of an individual, organization, or estate or succession that is made by a fiduciary under oath and that usually describes and assigns a value to the items or classes of property
b
: aggregate value assigned to an inventory
2
: goods or materials held on hand: as
a
under the Bankruptcy Code
: materials including personal property leased or furnished, held for sale or lease, or to be furnished under a contract for service, raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a business held for sale or lease
b
under section 9-109 of the Uniform Commercial Code
: goods that are leased by a person as lessor, that are held by a person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service or are furnished under a contract of service, or that are raw materials, works in process, or materials used or consumed in a business
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