# inhaling

/ˌɪnˈheɪɫɪŋ/ (US) · /ɪnhˈeɪlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inhaling
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

to breathe in air, smoke, or gas into your lungs. You can also use it to describe eating something very quickly.

For teachers: the present participle of 'inhale'; refers to the act of drawing air or other substances into the lungs through the respiratory tract. Often used figuratively to describe the rapid consumption of food.

## Examples

- He is inhaling the fresh mountain air.
- The doctor advised the patient to avoid inhaling toxic fumes while working in the garage.
- The athlete stood at the starting line, slowly inhaling the crisp morning air to calm his nerves before the final sprint of the championship.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was inhaling of the smoke" but "He was inhaling the smoke" — Inhale is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'of' before the object.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive when referring to specific substances and intransitive when referring to the general act of breathing.

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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.