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.
The seeds germinated in the late fall when the temperatures dropped. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The team is also reintroducing native plants, collecting seeds from the property and germinating them in on-site shade houses. Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 Thin areas like those in your lawn allow light to penetrate to the soil, which gives crabgrass seed as well as other weed seeds an opportunity to germinate. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2025 Okra is a super-fast crop that germinates quickly in warm soil. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 July 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 25 Jul. 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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