pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt 
precipitated; precipitating
1
a
: to throw violently : hurl
… the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind …—
A. B. Arons
A. B. Arons
b
: to throw down
2
: to bring about especially abruptly
… precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion …—John Cheever
John Cheever3
a
: to cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
1
a
: to fall headlong
b
: to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2
: to move or act with violent or unwise speed
3
a
: to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsi-pə-tət
-ˌtāt
1
: a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
2
: a product, result, or outcome of some process or action
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsi-pə-tət
1
a
: falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
b
: precipitous, steep
2
: exhibiting violent or unwise speed
a precipitate attack/decision
precipitately
adverb
precipitateness
noun
plural -s
: one that precipitates: such as
a(1)
: a person who precipitates some act or event : hastener
(2)
: an operator of a precipitating machine
(3)
: a worker who precipitates silver or gold from cyanide solution in zinc boxes or with zinc dust
b(1)
: an apparatus for causing precipitation
(2)
: an apparatus used in electrostatic precipitation that contains the collecting and discharge electrodes and may be characterized by a series of parallel pipes or plates through or between which the gas passes
called also electrical precipitator, electrostatic precipitator
Did you know?
Many people, including usage commentators, are insistent about keeping the adjectives "precipitate" and "precipitous" distinct. "Precipitate," they say, means "headlong" or "impetuous"; "precipitous" means only "steep." And, indeed, "precipitate" is used mostly in the "headlong" sense, whereas "precipitous" usually means "steep." But one shouldn't be too hasty about insisting on the distinction. The truth is that "precipitate" and "precipitous" have had a tendency to overlap for centuries. Lexicographer Samuel Johnson, in his dictionary of 1755, defined "precipitate" as "steeply falling," "headlong," and "hasty," while "precipitous" was "headlong; steep," and "hasty." Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary included much the same definitions. The words' etymologies overlap as well. Both ultimately come from Latin praeceps, which means "headlong."
Examples of precipitate in a Sentence
Verb
When Achilles is informed by his mother, the sea-goddess Thetis, that vanquishing Hector on the battlefield will precipitate his own demise, he unhesitatingly opts for the gusto.
—Mark Leyner, Time, 13 Nov. 2000
The vast room darkens. The videotape … begins on two identical screens set high above the nave. The soaring lyrics of LeeAnn Rimes's "How Do I Live (Without You)" precipitate a collective tension and welling, repressed tearfulness.
—Jayne Anne Phillips, Harper's, November 1998
Her death precipitated a family crisis.
The budget problem was precipitated by many unexpected costs.
minerals that precipitate from seawater
Noun (1)
Yet trained, and by nature inclined, to persevere through the stenches, messes, explosions and disasters of a laboratory, he fixed his gaze upon an unlikely precipitate: human resilience, a sort of radioactive trace element.
—Richard Eder, New York Times Book Review, 16 June 2002
the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances
the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution
Adjective
The precipitate decline in support for Aristide has probably less to do with Haiti's political crisis than with the continuous and unrelenting economic battering: the Haitian gourde, which a year ago was trading at 27 to the dollar, by late February was down to 55 to the dollar.
—Peter Dailey, New York Review of Books, 27 Mar. 2002
Almost at once I began to remember why drive-ins went into such a precipitate decline. To begin with, it is not remotely comfortable to sit in a car to watch a movie.
—Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
Assuming that the offering goes ahead—and only a precipitate slide in the stock market will stop it—a big slice of Wall Street history will disappear.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 1999
the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle
Mark Leyner, Time, 13 Nov. 2000
The vast room darkens. The videotape … begins on two identical screens set high above the nave. The soaring lyrics of LeeAnn Rimes's "How Do I Live (Without You)" precipitate a collective tension and welling, repressed tearfulness.
—Jayne Anne Phillips, Harper's, November 1998
Her death precipitated a family crisis.
The budget problem was precipitated by many unexpected costs.
minerals that precipitate from seawater
Noun (1)
Yet trained, and by nature inclined, to persevere through the stenches, messes, explosions and disasters of a laboratory, he fixed his gaze upon an unlikely precipitate: human resilience, a sort of radioactive trace element.
—Richard Eder, New York Times Book Review, 16 June 2002
the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances
the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution
Adjective
The precipitate decline in support for Aristide has probably less to do with Haiti's political crisis than with the continuous and unrelenting economic battering: the Haitian gourde, which a year ago was trading at 27 to the dollar, by late February was down to 55 to the dollar.
—Peter Dailey, New York Review of Books, 27 Mar. 2002
Almost at once I began to remember why drive-ins went into such a precipitate decline. To begin with, it is not remotely comfortable to sit in a car to watch a movie.
—Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
Assuming that the offering goes ahead—and only a precipitate slide in the stock market will stop it—a big slice of Wall Street history will disappear.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 1999
the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin A. Young, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
That precipitated this rapid process.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
One such innovative solution is to utilize the natural ability of microbes to precipitate minerals.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
Leigh Waldman, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
Maybe a reaction to the adenovirus was causing immune cells to mistakenly go after a blood component and precipitate clotting.
—Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precipitate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Fear of a repeat invasion also led Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev to send nuclear missiles to Cuba, precipitating the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 that nearly led to nuclear war.
—Kevin A. Young, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
That precipitated this rapid process.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Noun
Acid can be used to leach elements like calcium out, then a chemical or energetic process precipitates that calcium as calcium hydroxide.
—Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
One such innovative solution is to utilize the natural ability of microbes to precipitate minerals.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The allegations helped precipitate days of protests outside the facility, some leading to demonstrators’ arrests.
—Leigh Waldman, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
Maybe a reaction to the adenovirus was causing immune cells to mistakenly go after a blood component and precipitate clotting.
—Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precipitate
Cite this Entry
“Precipitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precipitate
1 of 3 verb
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt
precipitated; precipitating
1
a
: to throw violently : hurl
b
: to fall headlong
2
: to bring about suddenly
an event that precipitated war
3
a
: to separate or cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to change from a vapor to a liquid or solid and fall as rain or snow
precipitate
2 of 3 noun
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ət-ət
-ə-ˌtāt
: a usually solid substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change
precipitate
3 of 3 adjective
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ət-ət
: hasty sense 2
a precipitate attack
precipitately
adverb
Medical Definition
precipitate
1 of 2 verb
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt
precipitated; precipitating
1
: to bring about especially abruptly
2
a
: to cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
1
: to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2
: to separate from solution or suspension
precipitate
2 of 2 noun
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ət-ət, -ə-ˌtāt
: a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
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