English Reference
Verb

inhabit

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪnˈhæbət/ UK /ɪnhˈæbɪt/ in·hab·it UK spelling inhabiting, inhabits

v.to live in a specific place. It is often used to talk about animals or groups of people living in a certain area.

v.to live in or occupy a place or environment. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the location.


SIMPLE

Many different species of birds inhabit these islands.

CONTEXTUAL

The indigenous tribes that inhabit the remote regions of the rainforest have developed unique survival skills over centuries.

COMPLEX

While humans inhabit almost every corner of the globe, the harshest desert environments remain home only to those specifically adapted to extreme aridity.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

Pitfall
They inhabit in the cityThey inhabit the city

Inhabit is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'in'.

One occurs mainly in China, while the other inhabits the Himalayan foothills across parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

ScienceDaily· 26 Aug 2026

From Old French enhabiter, from Latin inhabitare (in + habitare).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin inhabitare
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated