In English vocabulary, the verb "inhabit" most nearly means which of the following?

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks for the closest meaning of the verb "inhabit". Such questions check whether you can connect Latin based or formal verbs with more common everyday English equivalents. "Inhabit" often appears in geography, biology, and ecology contexts, where we say that people or animals inhabit a certain area. You need to choose the option that best rephrases this idea.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The target verb is "inhabit".
• The options are "Vacate", "Move", "Reside", and "Leave".
• We assume standard dictionary meanings for each option.
• The question asks for the meaning that is nearest in sense, not an opposite.

Concept / Approach:
"Inhabit" means to live in or occupy a place as a permanent or regular resident. When we say "Penguins inhabit cold regions" or "They inhabit a small village", we are saying that the place is where they live. The word "reside" also means to live in a place, especially as a permanent home. In contrast, "vacate" and "leave" refer to going away from a place, and "move" refers to changing location rather than simply living somewhere. Therefore, "Reside" is the option that most closely matches the meaning of "inhabit".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that "inhabit" is commonly used in sentences like "The islands are inhabited by many species of birds".Step 2: Paraphrase this as "The islands are lived in by many species of birds". This indicates a meaning of living in a location.Step 3: Examine "Reside". It means to live in a particular place, often for a long time.Step 4: Examine "Vacate". This means to leave a place that you were occupying, the opposite of living in it.Step 5: Examine "Move". While it can involve changing homes, it focuses on the action of going elsewhere, not on the state of living in a place.Step 6: Examine "Leave". This also means to go away from a place, again the opposite of inhabiting it.Step 7: Conclude that "Reside" is the closest match to "inhabit".

Verification / Alternative check:
Dictionary definitions support this conclusion. "Inhabit" is defined as to live in or occupy a place as a permanent resident, and examples highlight people or animals inhabiting regions. "Reside" is defined as to live in a place, especially permanently or for a long time. Both verbs describe a state rather than a movement. In contrast, "vacate" is defined as to leave a place that you previously occupied, and "leave" is defined as to go away from it. These describe actions of departure, which are the reverse of inhabiting. "Move" can mean to go to a new house, but it stresses the relocation rather than the resulting stable residence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Vacate" is wrong because it means to empty a place by leaving it. This is the opposite of inhabiting. "Move" is wrong because it emphasizes changing position or location, not the ongoing state of living somewhere. "Leave" is wrong for the same reason as "vacate"; it indicates departure rather than residence. None of these three words expresses the core idea of living in and occupying a place as a resident.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse "move" and "inhabit" because they think about people moving to a place to live there. However, the verbs highlight different parts of the process. "Move" focuses on the act of going from one place to another, while "inhabit" and "reside" refer to the settled state of living in a location. To avoid confusion, think of "inhabit" as describing who lives somewhere at a given time, not how they got there. Matching that idea to "reside" will guide you to the correct answer in similar questions.

Final Answer:
The verb "inhabit" most nearly means Reside.