Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

inflate

/ɪnˈfleɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.01 in modern English

Syllables: in-flate
IPA: /ɪnˈfleɪt/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To enlarge an object by pushing air (or a gas) into it; to raise or expand abnormally

Transitive verb

verb

To enlarge by filling with air (or a gas).

Intransitive verb

verb

To swell; to puff up.

verb

To decompress (data) that was previously deflated.

Transitive verb

verb

To represent something as being more important, better, or worse than it actually is; to exaggerate.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"You inflate a balloon by blowing air into it."
"When passion's tumults in the bosom rise, / Inflate the features, and enrage the eyes."
"The balloon will inflate if you blow into it."
"to inflate somebody with pride or vanity"
"[I]f they find / Some stain or blemish in a name of note, / Not grieving that their greatest are so small, / Inflate themselves with some insane delight, / And judge all nature from her feet of clay, […]"
"Israel routinely claims that the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas, has a tendency to inflate the number of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip."

Etymology

From Latin īnflātus, perfect passive participle of īnflō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of inblow.

Word Breakdown

Root: *bʰleh₁-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪnˈfleɪt/
British English: /ɪnˈfleɪt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

inflates (present, singular) inflating (participle, present) inflated (participle, past) inflated (past)

Derived Forms

cumflate disinflate hyperinflate inflatability inflatable inflated inflater inflatingly inflatino inflaton misinflate overinflate

Phrases

inflate-a-date

Frequently Paired Words

inflation

Synonyms

balloon billow blow up expand amplify

Antonyms

deflate

Rhymes With

great state wait late date rate hate first-rate straight eight create weight

Questions

How do you pronounce inflate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈfleɪt/.
What does inflate mean?: To enlarge an object by pushing air (or a gas) into it; to raise or expand abnormally
Where does inflate come from?: From Latin īnflātus, perfect passive participle of īnflō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of inblow.

How to pronounce inflate

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