English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
to live in; to occupy as a dwelling
"Many animals inhabit the forest."
a person or animal that lives in a particular place
"The inhabitants of the village rely on farming for their livelihood."
to breathe in; to draw air into the lungs
"Take a deep breath and inhale slowly."
to receive property, money, or traits from someone after their death or from ancestors
"She inherited her father's house after his death."
To cause something to begin; to start.
"The company plans to initiate a new training program next month."
To introduce a substance, especially a drug, into the body using a needle.
"The nurse will inject the vaccine into the patient's arm."
the act of introducing a substance into the body through a needle
"The nurse gave me an injection to prevent the infection."
the lack of fairness or justice; an unjust act or treatment
"The trial was a clear example of injustice."
Mental or spiritual power that helps a person cope with difficulties.
"Community service fosters inner strength in individuals."
To introduce new methods, ideas, or products.
"The company must innovate to stay ahead of its competitors."
The introduction of something new, such as an idea, method, or device.
"Innovation is key to the success of technology companies."
Creative devices or advanced technologies that introduce new methods or approaches to accomplish tasks.
"Teachers use innovative tools to enhance classroom learning."
To ask for information; to investigate.
"She inquired about the details of the job."
An act of asking for information; an investigation into something.
"The committee launched an inquiry into the financial irregularities."
mentally ill; extremely foolish or unreasonable
"The idea of jumping off the cliff seemed insane."
not confident or assured; uncertain and anxious
"She felt insecure about her performance in the exam."
lack of confidence or assurance; a state of uncertainty or vulnerability
"Her insecurity made her doubt her abilities despite her experience."
Showing or feeling no concern for others' feelings.
"His insensitive comment hurt her deeply."
to put something into something else
"Please insert your card into the machine."
a person within a group or organization who has access to confidential information
"He was an insider who knew all the company's secrets."
The ability to understand the true nature of something; deep understanding.
"Her insight into human behavior made her a successful psychologist."
Showing deep understanding or perceptiveness.
"The professor gave an insightful lecture on global economics."
Too small or unimportant to be worth considering.
"The cost was so insignificant that nobody noticed it."
the act of demanding something firmly or repeatedly
"At his insistence, we stayed longer."
To look at something carefully to check for problems or details.
"The engineer inspected the bridge for cracks."
a careful examination of something, especially to check that it is correct or safe
"The building passed the safety inspection last week."
An official employed to ensure regulations are obeyed or standards are met.
"The inspector carefully checked the restaurant's kitchen for hygiene standards."
lack of stability or balance; tendency to change, fail, or collapse easily
"Political instability has slowed economic growth in the region."
the act or process of putting something in position and making it ready for use
"The installation of the new software took less than an hour."
A natural way of behaving or reacting that does not require learning.
"Birds build nests by instinct."
as a noun, an organization founded for a specific purpose; as a verb, to establish or initiate
"The university decided to institute new rules for the library."
Relating to an organization or established practice.
"The government made several institutional reforms in education."
to tell or teach someone how to do something
"The teacher instructed the students to complete the assignment."
providing knowledge or information; intended to teach
"The website offers many instructional videos for beginners."
serving as an instrument or means to an end; helpful or useful
"His instrumental role in the project was vital to its success."
Not enough; inadequate.
"His explanation was insufficient to clear the confusion."
to speak to or treat someone with disrespect or scorn
"He insulted her by calling her lazy in front of everyone."
to arrange for compensation in case of loss or damage, typically by taking out insurance
"You should insure your car against theft or accidents."
Remaining whole, complete, and undamaged.
"Despite the storm, the old house remained intact."
the process of taking something in, especially food or drink
"He monitored his daily intake of calories to maintain a healthy diet."
Necessary and important as a part of a whole.
"Honesty is an integral part of good leadership."
To combine or bring together into a unified whole.
"The new system integrates data from multiple sources."
combined or united to form a whole; including all parts or people equally
"The company offers an integrated system for managing all business operations."
the process of combining or bringing different things together to form a whole
"Social integration helps people from different backgrounds live together harmoniously."
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
"She is admired for her honesty and integrity."
Relating to the intellect; a person who engages in critical thinking and study.
"She enjoys intellectual discussions about philosophy."
People possessing a highly developed intellect; scholars or academics.
"Intellectuals protested against the dominance."
Of extreme force, degree, or strength.
"She felt intense pain after the accident."
To make something stronger, more extreme, or more forceful.
"The storm is expected to intensify overnight."
The quality of being extreme, strong, or forceful in degree.
"The intensity of the storm frightened the villagers."