- to restrain or hinder (an impulse, a desire, etc)
- to prohibit; forbid
- to stop, prevent, or decrease the rate of (a chemical reaction)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•hib•it /ɪnˈhɪbɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to hold back (an action, impulse, etc.):This jacket inhibits free movement.
- Psychologyto restrain (one's feelings, etc.):The way she leaned over my shoulder when I worked really inhibited me.
in•hib•it
(in hib′it),USA pronunciation v.t.
in•hib′it•a•ble, adj.
in•hib•i•to•ry
(in hib′i tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation in•hib′i•tive, adj.
- to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.).
- to prohibit; forbid.
- Psychologyto consciously or unconsciously suppress or restrain (psychologically or sociologically unacceptable behavior).
- Chemistryto decrease the rate of action of or stop (a chemical reaction).
- Latin inhibitus, past participle of inhibēre to restrain, equivalent. to in- in-2 + -hibēre, combining form of habēre to have, hold
- late Middle English inhibiten 1425–75
- 1. repress, discourage, obstruct. 2. interdict. See forbid.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
inhibit /ɪnˈhɪbɪt/ vb ( -its, -iting, -ited) (transitive)
'inhibitory' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):