Inflated
/ɪnˈfleɪtɪd/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo fill with air or gas; to expand or distend something.
/ɪnˈfleɪt/
To fill something with air or gas, making it larger.
The mechanic inflated the car tires.
💡 Simply: Inflated means to make something bigger by filling it with air or gas, like blowing up a balloon. You can also use it to describe making something seem bigger than it really is, like when a company pretends to have more money than they do.
👶 For kids: To make something bigger by putting air or gas inside it, like blowing up a balloon!
More Examples
The politician inflated the importance of the issue to gain votes.
The price of the product inflated due to high demand.
How It's Used
"She inflated the balloons for the party."
"The company inflated its profits to attract investors."
Expanded or distended, especially with air or gas.
/ɪnˈfleɪtɪd/
Filled with air or gas.
The inflated football bounced across the field.
💡 Simply: Inflated means something is bigger than normal because it's filled with air or gas, like a bouncy castle. It can also mean something is bigger than it should be, like an inflated price that's too high.
👶 For kids: Bigger because it's filled with air!
More Examples
The inflated ego of the celebrity was off-putting.
The market was suffering from inflated prices.
How It's Used
"The doctor noticed the patient's inflated abdomen."
"The inflated price of the property made it unaffordable."
Exaggerated or increased beyond a normal or reasonable level; often used to describe prices, egos, or claims.
/ɪnˈfleɪtɪd/
Exaggerated or increased beyond a reasonable level.
The company's profits appeared to be inflated.
💡 Simply: Inflated can mean that something is bigger or higher than it should be, like when prices go up too much or when someone thinks too highly of themselves. It's like when you blow up a balloon too much and it's about to burst.
👶 For kids: Too big or too much!
More Examples
He had an inflated opinion of his own abilities.
Due to the recent demand, the prices for the product became inflated.
How It's Used
"The inflated value of the shares caused panic."
"His inflated sense of self-importance was annoying."
From Latin *inflatus*, past participle of *inflare* meaning 'to blow into, inflate,' from *in-* 'in, into' + *flare* 'to blow.'
The word 'inflated' has been used since the 16th century, initially referring to physical expansion, and later in the 17th century, to metaphorical concepts of exaggeration or overestimation.
Memory tip
Imagine blowing air into something until it's full and gets bigger.
Word Origin
"to blow into, to inflate"