impregnate

1 of 2

verb

im·​preg·​nate im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
ˈim-ˌpreg-
impregnated; impregnating

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated
impregnate wood with varnish
b
: to permeate thoroughly
2
: to make pregnant : fertilize
impregnation noun
impregnator
im-ˈpreg-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
ˈim-ˌpreg-
noun

impregnate

2 of 2

adjective

im·​preg·​nate im-ˈpreg-nət How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
: being filled or saturated
Choose the Right Synonym for impregnate

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid.

soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed.

steep the tea for five minutes

impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Examples of impregnate in a Sentence

Verb a cake impregnated with brandy impregnated the cloth with furniture polish
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
California mansion sits on edge of a cliff after after Dana Point landslide: See photos Could a shark have impregnated a stingray at a North Carolina aquarium? Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024 As for the suggestion that Charlotte could have been impregnated by a shark, Ms. Lyons said that’s impossible. Ben Finley, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2024 Allan helped devise the plan of accusing Jamie (Sam Heughan) of adultery and impregnating Malva, but Malva felt unable to betray Claire in such a way. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 24 June 2023 Contra Charlotte’s aquarium left open the possibility that a shark actually did impregnate her. Conor Murray, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Several cases have resulted in fertility doctors owing patients millions of dollars for impregnating them through artificial insemination after saying the sperm was from an anonymous donor. Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023 About a decade ago, Zack Snyder developed a storyline for the DC Extended Universe that involved Bruce Wayne impregnating Lois Lane. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 17 Jan. 2024 Lawrence sees her both as a victim of pop culture and a malleable young mind to impregnate with his extreme ideas. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2023 One of the former employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said that two students said they were impregnated by teachers between 2018 and 2020. Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Adjective
The genetic material was thus less effective for artificial insemination procedures to impregnate female dogs. Kristin Lam, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impregnate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Late Latin impraegnatus, past participle of impraegnare, from Latin in- + praegnas pregnant

First Known Use

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impregnate was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near impregnate

Cite this Entry

“Impregnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impregnate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

impregnate

verb
im·​preg·​nate
im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt
impregnated; impregnating
1
a
: to make pregnant
b
: to introduce sperm cells into
2
: to cause (a material) to be filled or soaked with something
impregnate wood with varnish
impregnation
(ˌ)im-ˌpreg-ˈnā-shən
noun
impregnator
im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt-ər
noun

Medical Definition

impregnate

transitive verb
im·​preg·​nate im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt, ˈim-ˌ How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
impregnated; impregnating
1
a
: to make pregnant
b
: to introduce sperm into : fertilize
2
: to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated
gauze impregnated with white petrolatum
impregnation noun

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