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Definition of inherit verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

inherit

verb
 
/ɪnˈherɪt/
 
/ɪnˈherɪt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they inherit
 
/ɪnˈherɪt/
 
/ɪnˈherɪt/
he / she / it inherits
 
/ɪnˈherɪts/
 
/ɪnˈherɪts/
past simple inherited
 
/ɪnˈherɪtɪd/
 
/ɪnˈherɪtɪd/
past participle inherited
 
/ɪnˈherɪtɪd/
 
/ɪnˈherɪtɪd/
-ing form inheriting
 
/ɪnˈherɪtɪŋ/
 
/ɪnˈherɪtɪŋ/
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  1. [transitive, intransitive] to receive money, property, etc. from somebody when they die
    • inherit something from somebody She inherited a fortune from her father.
    • inherit (something) He will inherit the title on the death of his uncle.
    • Does he know that she stands to inherit?
    compare disinherit
    Extra Examples
    • He stood to inherit (= was likely to inherit) property worth over five million.
    • She inherited some money from her mother.
    Topics Moneyb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + inherit
    • stand to
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • be genetically inherited
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] to have qualities, physical features, etc. that are similar to those of your parents, grandparents, etc.
    • inherit something He has inherited his mother's patience.
    • Is this an inherited disease?
    • How many of these traits are genetically inherited?
    • inherit something from somebody She inherited a passion for music from her grandfather.
    Topics Family and relationshipsb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + inherit
    • stand to
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • be genetically inherited
    See full entry
  3. [transitive] inherit something (from somebody) if you inherit a particular situation from somebody, you are now responsible for dealing with it, especially because you have replaced that person in their job
    • policies inherited from the previous administration
    • I inherited a number of problems from my predecessor.
  4. Word OriginMiddle English enherite ‘receive as a right’, from Old French enheriter, from late Latin inhereditare ‘appoint as heir’, from Latin in- ‘in’ + heres, hered- ‘heir’.
See inherit in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee inherit in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sufficiently
adverb
 
 
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OPAL written words
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