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
These seeds germinate best when soil temperatures have cooled to between 50° and 65°F (air temperatures 60 to 85°F), which falls between early-September to mid-November, depending on location.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Seeds germinate in 4 to 7 days.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
In the proper conditions, the seeds will germinate.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, for impatient gardeners, your seeds may not germinate if the soil temperature doesn't suit them.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germinate
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Seeds germinate in 4 to 7 days.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
In the proper conditions, the seeds will germinate.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, for impatient gardeners, your seeds may not germinate if the soil temperature doesn't suit them.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 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 14 Mar. 2026.
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Medical Definition
germinate
verb
ger·mi·nate
ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt
germinated; germinating
: to cause to sprout or develop
: to begin to grow : sprout
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