cultivate

verb

cul·​ti·​vate ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce cultivate (audio)
cultivated; cultivating

transitive verb

1
: to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops
Some fields are cultivated while others lie fallow.
also : to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
2
a
: to foster the growth of
cultivate vegetables
cultivate coffee
b
: culture sense 2a
cultivate oysters for pearls
c
: to improve by labor, care, or study : refine
cultivate the mind
cultivated a reputation as a hard-core wheeler-dealer …Kit Boss
3
: further, encourage
cultivate the arts
4
: to seek the society of : make friends with
looking for influential people to cultivate as friends
cultivatable adjective

Examples of cultivate in a Sentence

Prehistoric peoples settled the area and began to cultivate the land. Some of the fields are cultivated while others lie fallow. a plant that is cultivated for its fruit They survived by cultivating vegetables and grain. He has carefully cultivated his image. She cultivated a taste for fine wines.
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.
Within the iron gates, Friday night card parties and fish fries set to the soundtrack of jazz and R&B music cultivated a sense of community and resilience. Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025 Lamont has cultivated an image as an affable aristocrat while spending about $60 million of his fortune on his four bids for statewide office. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025 Ultimately, cultivating new talent, rather than trying to outbid the likes of Meta, may prove a more sustainable path for OpenAI in its quest to stay highly mission-oriented while supporting an industry grappling with a scarcity of top-tier talent. Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 5 July 2025 Montoya said Alamo’s main priority is cultivating a loyal customer base. Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cultivate

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin cultivatus, past participle of cultivare, from cultivus cultivable, from Latin cultus, past participle of colere — see cult

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cultivate was in 1588

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cultivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivate. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

cultivate

verb
cul·​ti·​vate ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce cultivate (audio)
cultivated; cultivating
1
a
: to prepare land for the raising of crops
b
: to loosen or break up the soil around (growing plants)
2
a
: to raise or assist the growth of by tilling or by labor and care
cultivate vegetables
cultivate oysters
3
: to improve or develop by careful attention, training, or study : devote time and thought to
cultivate one's mind
cultivate the arts
4
: to seek the company and friendship of

Medical Definition

cultivate

transitive verb
cul·​ti·​vate ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce cultivate (audio)
cultivated; cultivating
: culture sense 1
viruses cultivated in brain tissue

More from Merriam-Webster on cultivate

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