inhale
B2Neutral; can be used in formal, informal, and technical contexts depending on usage.
Definition
Meaning
To draw air, smoke, gas, or odour into the lungs by breathing.
To consume something, especially food or drink, very quickly and eagerly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a deliberate or natural act of taking something into the lungs. When extended to food/drink, it is informal and implies speed and often greed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The informal 'eat quickly' sense is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
The act of inhalation is neutral. The informal use for food is humorous and slightly hyperbolic.
Frequency
Common in both medical/technical and everyday contexts in the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[inhale] + object (e.g., He inhaled the smoke.)[inhale] + adverb (e.g., He inhaled deeply.)[inhale] + object + adverb (e.g., She inhaled the scent slowly.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Inhale the (sweet) scent of victory/success (figurative).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; potentially in workplace safety contexts ('inhale toxic chemicals').
Academic
Common in biological, chemical, and medical contexts ('the lungs inhale oxygen').
Everyday
Very common for breathing, smelling, and informal eating ('I'm going to inhale this pizza').
Technical
Standard in medicine, biology, and chemistry ('inhale the anaesthetic', 'inhale particulate matter').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Do not inhale the fumes from the chemical spill.
- He inhaled his breakfast and ran for the train.
American English
- In case of fire, try not to inhale the smoke.
- He inhaled that burger in about thirty seconds.
adverb
British English
- N/A
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The inhalable particles were measured.
- N/A
American English
- The inhalable dust level was high.
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He held the flower and inhaled.
- Don't inhale the smoke!
- She inhaled deeply to calm her nerves.
- The doctor told him to inhale the medicine.
- Workers must wear masks to avoid inhaling dangerous substances.
- After the marathon, he sat down and inhaled two bottles of water.
- The study examined the effects of inhaling fine particulate matter over long periods.
- The audience seemed to inhale every word of the captivating lecture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
INto the HALE and hearty lungs – you INHALE to bring air IN.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONSUMPTION IS INHALATION (e.g., 'The market inhaled the new shares.' – rare but possible).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'вдыхать' (correct) vs 'выдыхать' (exhale, antonym). 'Inhale' for food is an informal metaphor; the direct Russian equivalent 'вдыхать еду' sounds odd. Use 'съесть очень быстро'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'inhale' without an object when one is implied (e.g., 'He inhaled.' is fine, but 'He inhaled the air.' is redundant). Confusing 'inhale' (breathe in) with 'exhale' (breathe out).
Practice
Quiz
In an informal context, what can 'inhale' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. Its formality depends on context. The medical use is formal, while the 'eat quickly' use is informal.
The direct opposite is 'exhale', meaning to breathe out.
Yes. It can be used for any gas, smoke, or scent. Informally, it can describe eating or drinking very rapidly.
They are synonyms, but 'inhale' is often more deliberate or technical. 'Breathe in' is more common in everyday instructions.