# inhabit

/ˌɪnˈhæbət/ (US) · /ɪnhˈæbɪt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inhabit
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- Many different species of birds inhabit these islands.
- The indigenous tribes that inhabit the remote regions of the rainforest have developed unique survival skills over centuries.
- While humans inhabit almost every corner of the globe, the harshest desert environments remain home only to those specifically adapted to extreme aridity.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They inhabit in the city" but "They inhabit the city" — Inhabit is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'in'.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.