[+ obj] 1 : to receive (money, property, etc.) from someone when that person dies
▪ She inherited the family business from her father. — compare disinherit 2 a biology : to have (a characteristic, disease, etc.) because of the genes that you get from your parents when you are born
▪ Baldness is inherited from the mother's side of the family. ▪ She inherited her father's deep blue eyes.
b : to get (a personal quality, interest, etc.) because of the influence or example of your parents or other relatives
▪ She inherited a love of baseball/cooking from her dad. 3 a : to receive (something) from someone who had it previously
▪ When my brother left for college, I inherited his old computer.
b : to have to deal with (a situation, problem, etc.) when you take a job or position that someone else had before you
▪ The company's new president will inherit some complicated legal problems. ▪ When the coach quit, her assistant inherited a last-place team.