Definition Definition

inherit - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'inherit' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Inherit [ v. i.]
- To take or hold a possession, property, estate, or rights by inheritance.
2 . Inherit [ v. t.]
- To take by descent from an ancestor; to take by inheritance; to take as heir on the death of an ancestor or other person to whose estate one succeeds; to receive as a right or title descendible by law from an ancestor at his decease; as, the heir inherits the land or real estate of his father; the eldest son of a nobleman inherits his father's title; the eldest son of a king inherits the crown.
- To receive or take by birth; to have by nature; to derive or acquire from ancestors, as mental or physical qualities; as, he inherits a strong constitution, a tendency to disease, etc.
- To come into possession of; to possess; to own; to enjoy as a possession.
- To put in possession of.

Meaning of 'inherit' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . inherit [ v]
Meaning (1):
- obtain from someone after their death
Example in sentence:
  • I inherited a castle from my French grandparents
Meaning (2):
- receive by genetic transmission
Example in sentence:
  • I inherited my good eyesight from my mother
Meaning (3):
- receive from a predecessor
Example in sentence:
  • The new chairman inherited many problems from the previous chair