inherit

7 definitions • 9 examples

to receive money, a house, etc. from someone after they have died:

Who will inherit the house when he dies?

All her children will inherit equally.

to be born with the same physical or mental characteristics as one of your parents or grandparents:

inherit something from someone Rosie inherited her red hair from her mother.

to begin to have responsibility for a problem or situation that previously existed or belonged to another person:

When I took on the job of manager, I inherited certain financial problems.

to receive money, property, or possessions from someone after the person has died:

Who will inherit the house when he dies?

To inherit particular characteristics is to receive them from the parents through the genes (= chemical patterns).

to receive money, property, or assets from someone who has died:

All her children stand to inherit equally.

inherit sth from sb She inherited a fortune from her father when he died.

if you inherit a situation, problem, department, etc., you become responsible for dealing with it or managing it:

The report showed that he inherited a $5.6 million revenue shortfall when he took over the department.

inherit sth from sb/sth When he took office, he inherited a deficit budget from the previous administration.