inhale

/ɪnˈheɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈheɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈhāl/ (ame, mw)

inhale — verb

  • inhalepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • inhaleshe / she / it
  • inhaledpast simple
  • inhaling-ing form

1. to pull something like smoke, steam, scent, or fresh air into your lungs through

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to pull something like smoke, steam, scent, or fresh air into your lungs through the nose or mouth.

例句

Caleb closed his eyes and inhaled the warm scent of fresh bread.

inhale + noun (smell / aroma) for enjoying a scent

Firefighters warned residents not to inhale the smoke from the burning warehouse.

inhale + smoke / fumes / dust collocation

同義詞
  • breathe in

    everyday equivalent; 'inhale' sounds more careful or medical.

  • draw in

    often used of breath itself: 'draw in a deep breath'.

反義詞
  • exhale

    to push air out of the lungs; the direct opposite action.

  • breathe out

    plainer everyday counterpart to 'exhale'.

文法句型

inhale + noun (smoke / fumes / steam)

inhale (intransitive)

用法筆記

Frequently used with a smoke, fume, or scent noun as object; in medical and yoga contexts also appears intransitively with an adverb like 'deeply' or 'slowly'.

常見錯誤

❌She inhaled in the sea air.
✅She inhaled the sea air.
💡'inhale' is already directional; no extra 'in' is needed after it.

2. to swallow food so quickly that you barely seem to chew it — used as a joke or e

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to swallow food so quickly that you barely seem to chew it — used as a joke or exaggeration.

例句

Liang was so hungry after practice that he inhaled two slices of pizza in under a minute.

informal exaggeration: inhale + countable food noun

Beatriz inhaled her sandwich at her desk between meetings.

office-life context; food noun as direct object

同義詞
  • wolf down

    very close in meaning; equally informal and used of food only.

  • devour

    also fast eating but more neutral in register; can apply to books and shows too.

反義詞
  • nibble

    to eat small amounts slowly — the playful opposite of inhaling food.

文法句型

inhale + food noun (sandwich / pizza / meal)

用法筆記

Always transitive in this sense, and only used of food or drink. Distinguish from sense 1 by the object: smoke or air for sense 1, food or a meal for sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌He inhaled fast.' (when meaning he ate quickly)
✅He inhaled his lunch.
💡sense 2 needs a food object; without one, readers will read sense 1 (breathing).