inhibit

[in-hib-it] /ɪnˈhɪb ɪt/
verb (used with object)
1.
to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.).
2.
to prohibit; forbid.
3.
Psychology. to consciously or unconsciously suppress or restrain (psychologically or sociologically unacceptable behavior).
4.
Chemistry. to decrease the rate of action of or stop (a chemical reaction).
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English inhibiten < Latin inhibitus, past participle of inhibēre to restrain, equivalent to in- in-2 + -hibēre, combining form of habēre to have, hold
Related forms
inhibitable, adjective
inhibitory
[in-hib-i-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈhɪb ɪˈtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/ (Show IPA), inhibitive, adjective
interinhibitive, adjective
noninhibitive, adjective
noninhibitory, adjective
overinhibit, verb (used with object)
subinhibitory, adjective
uninhibiting, adjective
Synonyms
1. repress, discourage, obstruct. 2. interdict. See forbid.
Examples from the web for inhibit
  • Again, the presence of electronic eyes did nothing to inhibit them.
  • The pollutants may also inhibit trees' ability to reproduce.
  • Both kinds of tea contain the same compound, polyphenols, which are believed to inhibit some cancers.
  • The laws therefore distort and inhibit economic activity.
  • Dysfunctional public spaces inhibit pride and make a community feel abandoned.
  • It tended to amplify the sorts of feelings that inhibit cooperation.
  • Neuroscientists are still seeking hormones that inhibit hunger, but they have other tactics as well.
  • Stimulant drugs typically act on parts of the brain involved in motivation, and interfere with those that inhibit our impulses.
  • Such bombardments would inhibit the development of biodiversity between impacts.
  • Far away, they actually inhibit themselves by producing missionaries.
British Dictionary definitions for inhibit

inhibit

/ɪnˈhɪbɪt/
verb (transitive) -its, -iting, -ited
1.
to restrain or hinder (an impulse, a desire, etc)
2.
to prohibit; forbid
3.
to stop, prevent, or decrease the rate of (a chemical reaction)
4.
(electronics)
  1. to prevent the occurrence of (a particular signal) in a circuit
  2. to prevent the performance of (a particular operation)
Derived Forms
inhibitable, adjective
inhibitive, inhibitory, adjective
Word Origin
C15: from Latin inhibēre to restrain, from in-² + habēre to have
Word Origin and History for inhibit
v.

early 15c., "to forbid, prohibit," back-formation from inhibition or else from Latin inhibitus, past participle of inhibere "to hold in, hold back, keep back" (see inhibition). Psychological sense (1876) is from earlier, softened meaning of "restrain, check, hinder" (1530s). Related: Inhibited; inhibiting.

inhibit in Medicine

inhibit in·hib·it (ĭn-hĭb'ĭt)
v. in·hib·it·ed, in·hib·it·ing, in·hib·its

  1. To hold back; restrain.

  2. To suppress or restrain a behavioral process, an impulse, or a desire consciously or unconsciously.

  3. To prevent or decrease the rate of a chemical reaction.

  4. To decrease, limit, or block the action or function of something in the body, as an enzyme or organ.

in·hib'i·to'ry (-tôr'ē) adj.