Inflate
Definition
Inflate refers to the act of expanding or filling something with air or gas. It’s like when you blow up a balloon or add air to a tire. However, inflate can also be used in a metaphorical sense. It means to increase or exaggerate something, often in a way that makes it seem larger or more important than it actually is. Inflation is an economic term that describes the general increase in prices over time. When the prices of goods and services go up, the purchasing power of money decreases, and it takes more money to buy the same things. Sometimes people also use the word inflate to describe a feeling or emotion, like when someone inflates their ego, meaning they have an exaggerated sense of self-importance.
Example sentences
The cyclist stopped to inflate his tires before heading out on the long ride.
The athlete used a pump to inflate the basketball before the game.
The company was caught inflating their sales figures to attract investors.
The politician’s promises were nothing more than inflated rhetoric.
The financial bubble burst when the inflated stock prices came crashing down.