Word
inject
Phoneticsin·ject, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈdʒɛkt/
UK/ɪndʒˈɛkt/
Definitions
01medical use
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
v. to put medicine or a drug into someone's body using a needle and a syringe.
v. to administer a liquid, such as a vaccine or medication, into the body using a needle and syringe. Often used with 'into'.
“The nurse had to inject the medicine into my arm.”
“The physician decided to inject the steroid directly into the joint to provide immediate relief from the inflammation.”
Synonyms
02to add a quality
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to add a new quality or feeling to a situation to make it more interesting or successful.
v. to introduce a new or different element into a situation, conversation, or organisation to improve it or change its character.
“The new manager tried to inject some energy into the tired team.”
“The government's plan is to inject billions of dollars into the struggling housing market to stimulate growth.”
03software/code
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
v. to put extra code into a computer program, often to fix a problem or to attack a system.
v. to introduce code into an existing program or its memory space, frequently associated with security vulnerabilities or modular updates.
“Hackers can inject malicious code into websites that are not secure.”
“The software update allows the system to inject custom scripts into the workflow without restarting the main server.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “inject” in context.
Verb
01. inject cash into the economy
“The government decided to inject cash into the economy to stimulate growth during the recession.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. inject humor into the situation
“She tried to inject some humor into the situation to ease the tension during the meeting.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. inject life into the project
“The new manager managed to inject life into the project just as morale was hitting an all-time low.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
04. inject the vaccine into the arm
“The nurse carefully injected the vaccine into the patient's upper arm.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Noun
05. attempt to inject realism
“His attempt to inject realism into the debate was met with resistance from the more idealistic members.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
06. directly inject the medication
“The doctor had to directly inject the medication to ensure it reached the bloodstream immediately.”
adv + verb + noun
07. regularly inject insulin
“Patients with Type 1 diabetes must regularly inject insulin to manage their blood sugar levels.”
adv + verb + noun
Usage
The verb is transitive and typically takes the preposition 'into' for the destination of the substance or quality.
Pitfall
The doctor injected to him the vaccine
The doctor injected him with the vaccine
When the person is the object, use 'inject [someone] with [something]'. Alternatively, use 'inject [something] into [someone]'.
Real-World Examples
“Most common by far is injecting the gel-like substance hyaluronic acid - the same key ingredient used in lip fillers.” “Larger fires produce more smoke and inject it higher into the atmosphere, allowing it to travel much further, he said.” Etymology
From Latin iniectus, injectus, participle of iniciō, injiciō (“I throw in”), from in- + iaciō (“I throw”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Domain
- 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 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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