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inhibit
[ in-hib-it ]
verb (used with object)
- to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.).
Synonyms: , ,
- to prohibit; forbid.
Synonyms:
- Psychology. to consciously or unconsciously suppress or restrain (psychologically or sociologically unacceptable behavior).
- Chemistry. to decrease the rate of action of or stop (a chemical reaction).
inhibit
/ ɪˈɪɪ /
verb
- to restrain or hinder (an impulse, a desire, etc)
- to prohibit; forbid
- to stop, prevent, or decrease the rate of (a chemical reaction)
- electronics
- to prevent the occurrence of (a particular signal) in a circuit
- to prevent the performance of (a particular operation)
Derived Forms
- ˈٲ, adjective
- ˈپ, adjective
Other 51Թ Forms
- ···· adjective
- ···ٴ· [in-, hib, -i-tawr-ee], ···پ adjective
- ···· verb (used with object)
- ܲ····Բ adjective
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of inhibit1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
"Freedom of speech is in no way inhibited, except they cannot stand outside abortion clinics so as to harass the women trying to get in."
Despite being shy and inhibited, he began “moonlighting” in the drama department, where, he later wrote, he found himself “fast losing my heart to drama.”
Mr Ebenezer said he and his staff needed to be "allowed to do what we need to do and not be inhibited by ridiculous bureaucracy".
By contrast, suzetrigine inhibits pain by taking advantage of voltage-gated sodium channels found on the membranes of neurons, muscle cells and glial cells, particularly at the junction between neurons and muscle cells.
Burns, the Supreme Court held that a public employer inhibits an employee’s constitutionally protected belief and association where it terminates him for lack of political support.
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Related 51Թs
Inhibit Vs. Prohibit
What’s the difference between inhibit and prohibit?
Prohibit most commonly means to forbid or disallow, but it can also mean what inhibit usually means—to prevent or hinder. Inhibit can also mean to forbid, but this use is much less common.
Prohibit is most commonly used in the context of rules, especially official ones like laws. The speed limit prohibits you from going above a certain speed. Parents might prohibit their kids from eating candy before dinner, but the word forbid is more commonly used in cases like this.
Inhibit, on the other hand, is usually used in the context of things that prevent or hinder what someone is trying to do. Speed bumps are designed to inhibit speeding. A leg injury can inhibit your ability to walk.
The meaning of prohibit and inhibit most often overlaps in cases when something is inhibited to the point of almost not being able to happen at all, as in This cast is designed to prohibit movement (prohibit could be replaced with inhibit in this sentence without much or any change in meaning).
The adjective form inhibited is often used to indicate that someone or something is held back from full potential. When it’s applied to a person, it usually involves a mental, emotional, or psychological block, as in I feel less inhibited around my new group of friends—they accept me for who I am.
The adjective prohibited describes something that’s forbidden, as in The sign lists all of the prohibited activities.
Here’s an example of inhibit and prohibit used correctly in the same sentence.
Example: To inhibit the acceleration of climate change, we must prohibit any increase in fossil fuel emissions.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between inhibit and prohibit.
Quiz yourself on inhibit vs. prohibit!
Should inhibit or prohibit be used in the following sentence?
The school board adopted a new rule to _____ smoking anywhere on school grounds.
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