ɪnˈhɪbɪt səˈpɹɛs prohibit, forbid, or prevent from doing something Contact between the young was inhibited by strict social customs make (someone) self-conscious and as a result unable to act naturally his father's cold and distant demeanor inhibited him emotionally consciously restrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior suppress a smile he let his anger bottle up until he exploded limit, block, or decrease the action or function of inhibit the action of the enzyme inhibit the rate of a chemical reaction