inhabit

/ɪnˈhæbɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈhæbɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈha-bət/ (ame, mw)

inhabit — verb

  • inhabitpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • inhabitshe / she / it
  • inhabitedpast simple
  • inhabiting-ing form

1. to have your permanent or usual home in a particular place — used for a person l

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to have your permanent or usual home in a particular place — used for a person living in a building or area, or for an animal or plant that is naturally found in a region

例句

Gabriel and his family inhabited a small island off the coast for many years.

past tense, human subject: family group

These rare birds inhabit the dense forests of northern Taiwan and nearby mountain areas.

animal subject + natural habitat pattern

同義詞
  • live in

    everyday alternative, less formal

  • reside in

    formal, used for people in a specific building or area

  • occupy

    suggests control or possession of a space

  • dwell in

    literary or old-fashioned, rarely used in conversation

反義詞
  • abandon

    to leave permanently

  • vacate

    formal, to leave a building or area

文法句型

inhabit + place

用法筆記

More formal than 'live in'; common in descriptive writing about regions, habitats, or homes. Unlike 'live', it must be followed directly by a place without a preposition.

常見錯誤

❌Many birds inhabit in the forest.
✅Many birds inhabit the forest.
💡inhabit is transitive and does not take the preposition 'in'.
❌My cousin inhabits in Tokyo.
✅My cousin lives in Tokyo.' or 'My cousin inhabits Tokyo.
💡use 'live in' for casual contexts; 'inhabit' sounds overly formal for daily life.

2. to exist in a place or thing and fill it in a noticeable way — used for feelings

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to exist in a place or thing and fill it in a noticeable way — used for feelings, qualities, spirits, or microorganisms that are present in a space, a body, or a community

例句

A strange sadness inhabited the old house after the family moved away.

abstract emotion as subject

A spirit of generosity inhabits this community and shapes how people treat visitors.

abstract quality + community

同義詞
  • fill

    less specific, can replace 'inhabit' for abstract subjects

  • pervade

    suggests spreading through every part, more literary

  • occupy

    may suggest using space actively

反義詞
  • empty

    to remove the contents of a space

文法句型

inhabit + place

be inhabited by + noun

用法筆記

The subject is often an abstract noun (a feeling, quality, or spirit) or a type of microorganism (bacteria, microbes). Frequently used in literary descriptions and scientific writing about organisms present in a host or environment.

常見錯誤

❌A quiet mood inhabited in the room.
✅A quiet mood inhabited the room.
💡no preposition needed after 'inhabit'.
❌The room inhabited a strange feeling.
✅A strange feeling inhabited the room.
💡the feeling, quality, or entity is the subject; the location is the object.