inf
late
Third Person
inflates
Present Participle
inflating
Past Tense
inflated
Past Participle
inflated
1
to make something full by air or gas
transitive
- He inflated the balloon by blowing air into it until it reached its maximum size.
- The swimmer inflated the life jacket before entering the water, ensuring buoyancy and safety.
- To prepare for the camping trip, she inflated the air mattress to provide a comfortable sleeping surface.
- Before the party, she inflated dozens of colorful balloons to decorate the room.
- The air compressor was used to inflate the inflatable bounce house for the children's birthday party.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
2
to increase something significantly or excessively
transitive
- He inflated his estimate of the project's cost, hoping to secure more funding than necessary.
- The landlord inflated the rent for the apartment, taking advantage of the high demand in the area.
- The seller inflated the value of the antique vase, hoping to make a larger profit from the sale.
- Some critics argue that certain sellers may artificially inflate the prices of in-demand items to take advantage of consumer urgency.
- Faced with budget constraints, the university had no choice but to inflate tuition fees for the upcoming academic year.
Antonyms:
3
to expand or become swollen with air or gas
- The balloon inflated gradually as air was pumped into it, growing larger with each passing moment.
- As the tire inflated, it slowly regained its shape, ready to be mounted back onto the car.
- The air mattress inflated quickly when the valve was opened.
- With a hiss of escaping air, the life raft inflated automatically when it hit the water.
- The inflatable castle inflated in the backyard, delighting the children as it took shape before their eyes.
4
to make something seem more impressive or important than it actually is
transitive
- The politician tried to inflate his accomplishments during the campaign speech.
- He tends to inflate his stories when retelling them to make them sound more exciting and dramatic.
- The marketer inflated the benefits of the product in the advertisement, making unrealistic claims about its effectiveness.
- Don't inflate the importance of your role in the project just to impress your boss.
- The news outlet was accused of inflating the severity of the situation to generate sensational headlines.
5
to increase the supply of currency or credit in an economy, leading to a rise in prices of goods and services
transitive
- The central bank decided to inflate the currency to stimulate economic growth.
- Government spending programs can sometimes inadvertently inflate the economy, causing prices to soar.
- In times of crisis, central banks may choose to inflate the currency to ease debt burdens.
- In an attempt to combat deflation, the government implemented policies to inflate the economy.
Antonyms: