Word
inhibition
Phoneticsin·hi·bi·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnəˈbɪʃən/
UK/ɪnhɪbˈɪʃən/
Definitions
01psychological restraint
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Psychology
n. a feeling of fear, shyness, or embarrassment that stops you from doing what you want or acting naturally.
n. a conscious or unconscious mechanism that restrains an impulse, desire, or behavioral pattern.
“After a few minutes of dancing, she lost her inhibition and started to enjoy the party.”
“Alcohol is known to lower social inhibition, often leading individuals to engage in behaviors they would otherwise consider risky or inappropriate.”
Antonyms
02slowing a process
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the process of slowing down or stopping a chemical reaction or a biological growth.
n. the reduction or prevention of a chemical or physiological process by a specific substance or factor.
Español:inhibición
“The drug works by the inhibition of a specific enzyme that causes pain.”
“The study focused on the competitive inhibition of the enzyme, demonstrating how the inhibitor molecule binds to the active site to prevent substrate processing.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03legal stay
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a formal order from a higher court to stop a lower court from continuing a case.
n. a writ or order from a superior court to an inferior judge or party to stay proceedings.
“The judge issued an inhibition to stop the lower court from making a final decision.”
“The appellant sought an inhibition from the High Court to prevent the immediate execution of the lower tribunal's mandate pending further review.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Alcohol enhances the effects of GABA and suppresses some glutamate activity, helping to produce that familiar feeling of relaxation and lowered inhibitions.” “His attorney, John Fossum, argued that Kazmierczak had not been taking his mental health medications before the attack, lowering his inhibitions and contributing to what happened.” Etymology
From Middle English inhibicioun, inhibicione from Old French inibicion, from Latin inhibitio. Morphologically inhibit + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/inhibition
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0