permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt 
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
1
: to spread or diffuse through
a room permeated with tobacco smoke
2
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
Did you know?
Permeate was borrowed into English in the 17th century from Latin permeatus, which comes from the prefix per- ("through") and the verb meare, meaning "to go" or "to pass." Meare hasn't exactly permeated English. Aside from permeate itself, its other English descendants include the relatively common permeable as well as the medical meatus ("a natural body passage") and the downright rare irremeable ("offering no possibility of return").
Examples of permeate in a Sentence
The water permeated the sand.
The smell of baking bread permeated the kitchen.
A feeling of anxiety permeated the office as we rushed to meet the deadline.
The rain permeated through the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Clemons’ cinematography is excellent, all slow creeping shots and shadows permeating even the daytime scenes.
—
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Along with intermittent rain, gray skies have accompanied the sorrowful mood that has permeated throughout the garage this weekend in Concord.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Since cat urine can permeate far beyond its visible edges, this is also useful in locating all the boundaries of a stain, ensuring a more thorough clean.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
Poverty permeated his childhood.
—Steve Pickett, CBS News, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for permeate
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.
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Along with intermittent rain, gray skies have accompanied the sorrowful mood that has permeated throughout the garage this weekend in Concord.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Since cat urine can permeate far beyond its visible edges, this is also useful in locating all the boundaries of a stain, ensuring a more thorough clean.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
Poverty permeated his childhood.
—Steve Pickett, CBS News, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for permeate
Cite this Entry
“Permeate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permeate. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
1
: to spread throughout
a room permeated with the scent of flowers
2
: to pass through something which has pores or small openings or is of loose texture : seep through
water permeates sand
permeation
noun
ˌpər-mē-ˈā-shən
Medical Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
