inhibit
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
To restrain, prevent, or hinder a process, action, or function.
To have a suppressive or controlling effect on someone's behavior, feelings, or natural impulses, or to slow down a chemical or biological reaction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Focuses on the active restraint or suppression of a process or behavior, often implying an external or internal force creating a blockage. In psychology/biology, it describes the suppression of a neural signal or enzyme function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant syntactic or semantic differences. Both use 'inhibit' in legal, academic, scientific, and psychological contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British English; in American English, 'hold back' or 'restrain' might be more frequent in casual speech.
Frequency
Higher frequency in academic/scientific writing in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SVO]: Fear inhibited his actions.[SVO from -ing]: The rules inhibit us from acting freely.[SV passive]: Enzyme activity is inhibited by the compound.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing to inhibit you (formal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"High interest rates can inhibit investment in new infrastructure."
Academic
"The presence of phosphorus inhibits nitrogen fixation in certain soils."
Everyday
"Don't let shyness inhibit you from joining the conversation."
Technical
"The inhibitor binds to the active site, effectively inhibiting the protease."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The wet weather inhibited the team's training schedule.
- A lack of funding is inhibiting research progress.
American English
- The medication can inhibit the absorption of iron.
- Strict regulations inhibit business innovation in the sector.
adverb
British English
- He spoke inhibitingly about the project's risks, dampening enthusiasm.
American English
- She looked at him inhibitingly, making him second-guess his question.
adjective
British English
- The inhibited performance of the engine was due to a faulty sensor.
- She felt too inhibited to dance in front of strangers.
American English
- An inhibited child may avoid group activities.
- The drug has an inhibiting effect on the virus.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Cold weather inhibits plant growth.
- He was inhibited by his fear of failure.
- Stringent safety protocols should not inhibit operational efficiency.
- The chemical is known to inhibit the corrosion process.
- The study posits that socioeconomic factors profoundly inhibit access to tertiary education.
- Allosteric inhibitors bind to a site other than the enzyme's active site, inducing a conformational change.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HIBERNATING bear (hib-) being IN its cave. The cave walls IN-HIBIT the bear from coming out, restraining its movement.
Conceptual Metaphor
INHIBITION IS A BLOCKAGE / BARRIER (e.g., 'put the brakes on', 'a stumbling block').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'inhabitat' (жить, населять).
- Not a direct synonym for 'forbid' (запрещать), which is more about official rules; 'inhibit' is about creating an obstacle.
- Avoid using where 'prevent' (предотвращать) is simpler and more direct in causal contexts.
Common Mistakes
- *His father inhibited him to go. (Correct: inhibited him from going)
- *The law inhibits smoking. (More natural: prohibits/bans smoking. 'Inhibits' is better for processes/behaviors, not explicit rules.)
- Confusing 'inhibit' with 'exhibit'.
Practice
Quiz
In a biochemical context, what does 'inhibit' most specifically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Prevent' means to stop something from happening altogether. 'Inhibit' means to make it harder, slower, or less likely, but not necessarily impossible.
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'Feeling self-conscious inhibited her at the party.' It describes an internal restraint on behavior or expression.
The primary noun is 'inhibition'. Less commonly, 'inhibitor' refers to a specific substance or agent that causes inhibition, especially in chemistry/biology.
No. The correct pattern is 'inhibit someone FROM doing something'.