germinate

verb

ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating

transitive verb

: to cause to sprout or develop

intransitive verb

1
: to come into being : evolve
before Western civilization began to germinateA. L. Kroeber
2
: to begin to grow : sprout
waiting for the seeds to germinate
germination noun
germinative adjective

Examples of germinate in a Sentence

methods used by gardeners to germinate seeds
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.
Coriander seeds sold in the grocery store spice section will germinate, too. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025 Problem is, pre-emergent herbicides work by killing newly germinating seeds — all seeds. Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025 Fire poppies are rare, germinating only in the presence of karrikins, a chemical compound in smoke, which awakens them from dormancy. Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 The seeds of a daylong gathering have been germinating for a while. Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for germinate

Word History

Etymology

Latin germinatus, past participle of germinare to sprout, from germin-, germen bud, germ

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of germinate was in 1610

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinate. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

germinate

verb
ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating
1
: to cause to sprout or develop
2
: to begin to grow : sprout
3
: to come into being : evolve
germination noun

Medical Definition

germinate

verb
ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating

transitive verb

: to cause to sprout or develop

intransitive verb

: to begin to grow : sprout
germination noun

More from Merriam-Webster on germinate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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