cultivate
verb
cul·ti·vate
ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt 
cultivated; cultivating
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
Kit Boss4
: to seek the society of : make friends with
looking for influential people to cultivate as friends
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
In each case, growing landlessness and the pressure to cultivate cash crops reduced local resilience in the face of prolonged droughts and other disasters, such as outbreaks of bubonic plague and cattle disease.
—Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Spanish-Speaking Cannabis Creators Santa Tuca (Alan) – A prominent Argentine cannabis creator and community leader, Santa Tuca has cultivated an audience of 80,000+ on Instagram with creative grow-op tours, event coverage, and lifestyle content.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
But that immediate attraction to her gross-out humor led him and others down a rabbit hole of material she’s cultivated for years.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
While cultivating, move as little soil as possible to limit the number of weed seeds brought to the surface to germinate.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cultivate
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Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Spanish-Speaking Cannabis Creators Santa Tuca (Alan) – A prominent Argentine cannabis creator and community leader, Santa Tuca has cultivated an audience of 80,000+ on Instagram with creative grow-op tours, event coverage, and lifestyle content.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
But that immediate attraction to her gross-out humor led him and others down a rabbit hole of material she’s cultivated for years.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
While cultivating, move as little soil as possible to limit the number of weed seeds brought to the surface to germinate.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cultivate
Cite this Entry
“Cultivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivate. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cultivate
verb
cul·ti·vate
ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt
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
b
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
cultivated; cultivating
: culture sense 1
viruses cultivated in brain tissue
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