cultivate

cul·ti·vate | \ ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt

How to pronounce cultivate (audio)

\

cultivated; cultivating

Definition of cultivate

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)

2a : 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

Other Words from cultivate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about cultivate

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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 This series of missteps undermined her carefully cultivated image as an accidental senator animated by idealism instead of crass political considerations. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, "Don’t Count Elizabeth Warren Out," 14 Jan. 2020 The campaign has shed its previous carefully cultivated, carefree attitude about Iowa. — Joseph Simonson, Washington Examiner, "Biden battles to stave off Iowa humiliation," 13 Jan. 2020 Which may lead us to discount the 70/30 rule, ignoring the urgent calling to cultivate inventive thinking. — Josh Linkner, Detroit Free Press, "There's a new 70/30 rule for inventive thinking. Why you need to follow it," 11 Jan. 2020 Teach kids to cultivate their curiosities and flex their problem-solving skills. — Bridget Shirvell, Good Housekeeping, "Here's How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change in an Era of Climate Crisis," 10 Jan. 2020 For the fourth consecutive year, Basketball Day Indiana will continue to cultivate that connection between Hoosiers and their love for basketball on Saturday, Feb. 8. — Chris Sims, Indianapolis Star, "Basketball Day Indiana to feature 27 hours of hoops for Hoosiers," 7 Jan. 2020 One analyst, Rashid Abdi, in Twitter posts discussing the attack agreed but added that Kenyan security services have long been worried that Iran was trying to cultivate ties with al-Shabab. — Abdi Guled, USA TODAY, "Al-Shabab attacks military base used by US forces in Kenya," 5 Jan. 2020 Sweetgreen also carefully cultivated a highbrow brand position. — New York Times, "In a Burger World, Can Sweetgreen Scale Up?," 4 Jan. 2020 The result is a bright and airy modern home, carefully cultivated to achieve an effortless aesthetic. — Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE.com, "See Inside Elle Macpherson's Art-Adorned $8.1 Million Mansion in Miami," 11 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cultivate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about cultivate

Dictionary Entries near cultivate

cultivated pearl

Statistics for cultivate

Last Updated

19 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Cultivate.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivating. Accessed 20 January 2020.

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More Definitions for cultivate

cultivate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of cultivate

: to prepare and use (soil) for growing plants

: to grow and care for (plants)

: to grow or raise (something) under conditions that you can control

See the full definition for cultivate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cultivate

cul·ti·vate | \ ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt

\

cultivated; cultivating

Kids Definition of cultivate

1 : to prepare land for the raising of crops cultivate a field

2 : to raise or assist the growth of crops by tilling or by labor and care cultivate corn

3 : to improve or develop by careful attention, training, or study : devote time and thought to He's trying to cultivate a better attitude.

4 : to seek the company and friendship of As soon as Johnny began to cultivate Dove, he was surprised at the response.— Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain

cultivate

transitive verb

cul·ti·vate | \ ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt

\

cultivated; cultivating

Medical Definition of cultivate

: culture sense 1 viruses cultivated in brain tissue

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