inherit

verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət 

-ˈhe-rət

inherited; inheriting; inherits

transitive verb

1

a

: to receive from an ancestor as a right or title descendible by law at the ancestor's death

b

: to receive as a devise or legacy

2

: to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission

inherit a defective enzyme

3

: to have in turn or receive as if from an ancestor

inherited the problem from his predecessor

4

: to come into possession of or receive especially as a right or divine portion

and every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters … for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life

—Matthew 19:29 (Revised Standard Version)

intransitive verb

: to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance

inheritor

in-ˈher-ə-tər 

-ˈhe-rə-

noun

inheritress

in-ˈher-ə-trəs 

-ˈhe-rə-

noun

or inheritrix

in-ˈher-ə-(ˌ)triks 

-ˈhe-rə-

Examples of inherit in a Sentence

She inherited the family business from her father.

Baldness is inherited from the mother's side of the family.

She inherited her father's deep blue eyes.

She inherited a love of baseball from her dad.

When my brother left for college, I inherited his old computer.

The company's new president will inherit some complicated legal problems.

When the coach quit, her assistant inherited a last-place team.

Recent Examples on the Web

On his Inauguration Day back in January 2021, President Joe Biden inherited a bad economy. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

Her daughter has inherited the music bug and sometimes even takes her Airpods out to talk to her mom. —Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 2 Nov. 2024

The next president will nonetheless inherit an economy that is working pretty well both for households and businesses, Axios' Neil Irwin notes. —Axios, 2 Nov. 2024

Orr inherited talented returners such as All-Pro safety Hamilton, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, inside linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike, who had 13 sacks in 2023. —Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enheriten "to give (a person) right of inheritance, make (a person) heir, come into possession of as an heir," borrowed from Anglo-French enheriter, going back to Late Latin inhērēditāre "to appoint as heir," from Latin in- in- entry 2 + Late Latin hērēditāre "to leave as an inheritance, inherit, make an heir" — more at heritage

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Kids Definition

inherit

verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət 

1

: to receive by legal right from a person at the person's death

2

: to receive by genetic transmission

inherit red hair

3

: to have handed on to one by someone else

inherit a job

inheritable

-ət-ə-bəl

adjective

inheritor

-ət-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

inherit

transitive verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-ət 

: to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission

Legal Definition

inherit

verb

in·​her·​it in-ˈher-it 

transitive verb

1

: to receive (property) from an estate by operation of the laws of intestacy

broadly : to receive (property) either by will or through intestate succession

2

: succeed

intransitive verb

: to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance

inheritor

in-ˈher-i-tər 

noun

Etymology

Middle French enheriter to make one an heir, from Late Latin inhereditare, from Latin in- in + hereditas inheritance