germinate
verb
ger·mi·nate
ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt 
germinated; germinating
: to cause to sprout or develop
1
: to come into being : evolve
… before Western civilization began to germinate …—
A. L. Kroeber
A. L. Kroeber2
: to begin to grow : sprout
waiting for the seeds to germinate
Examples of germinate in a Sentence
methods used by gardeners to germinate seeds
Recent Examples on the Web
Others are available for purchase as seeds that can be easily germinated indoors or sown directly in the garden.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 May 2026
When to Plant Zucchini Seeds Zucchini are heat-loving plants whose seeds won’t germinate in soil temperatures below 70°F and the plants stop growing and suffer in temperatures below 50°F.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Unlike most fungal diseases, powdery mildew does not require free water on leaf surfaces to germinate; in fact, moisture on leaves can inhibit spore development.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Grass seed takes about 14 days to germinate, and during that period, the seeds are sitting on the surface of the soil waiting to put out shoots.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germinate
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.
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 May 2026
When to Plant Zucchini Seeds Zucchini are heat-loving plants whose seeds won’t germinate in soil temperatures below 70°F and the plants stop growing and suffer in temperatures below 50°F.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Unlike most fungal diseases, powdery mildew does not require free water on leaf surfaces to germinate; in fact, moisture on leaves can inhibit spore development.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Grass seed takes about 14 days to germinate, and during that period, the seeds are sitting on the surface of the soil waiting to put out shoots.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Cite this Entry
“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinate. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
germinate
verb
ger·mi·nate
ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt
germinated; germinating
: to cause to sprout or develop
: to begin to grow : sprout
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
