Inflate
To fill with air or gas, causing something to expand; to increase in size, amount, or importance, often excessively.
verbInflate
To fill with air or gas, causing something to expand; to increase in size, amount, or importance, often excessively.
verbImagine This
Imagine a birthday balloon being slowly blown up; with each puff of air it grows bigger and sturdier, until it almost bursts. Now picture prices and costs rising rapidly in a crowded market, as if they’re being inflated by eagerness and demand.
Sounds Like
in-FLAYT
Looks Like
visually resembles the word 'deflate' and is associated with 'inflation' (opposites/related terms), often seen near discussions of air-filled objects or rising costs.
Remember This
Inflate comes from Latin inflare, meaning to blow into. It is used both literally (to fill with air) and figuratively (to exaggerate or raise something, like prices or ego).
Other Forms
Connect With
inflate a tire, inflation/deflation, expand, swell, balloon, puff up
Note
Use inflate for filling with air or gas and for figurative increases. The opposite is deflate. Be mindful of contexts: 'inflate the tire' is literal; 'inflate prices' is economic/figurative and may carry a negative connotation.