pupate

verb

pu·​pate ˈpyü-ˌpāt How to pronounce pupate (audio)
pupated; pupating

intransitive verb

: to become a pupa : pass through a pupal stage
pupation noun

Examples of pupate in a Sentence

Unlike most butterflies, this species pupates underground.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After three to seven days, the larvae fall to the ground and burrow into the soil to pupate, transforming into flies. Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2025 The larvae infest the food but can move some distance away to pupate, spinning a silken cocoon and attaching to the wall, under a shelf, or inside a box of food. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025 Yet those larvae start eating aphids right away to prepare for pupating in three to four weeks. Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2025 The larvae drop to the ground to pupate in summer and emerge as adults the following spring. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pupate

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pupate was in 1862

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Cite this Entry

“Pupate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pupate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

pupate

verb
pu·​pate ˈpyü-ˌpāt How to pronounce pupate (audio)
pupated; pupating
: to become a pupa : pass through the stage of the pupa
pupation noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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