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
Once seeds germinate, add an application of balanced, slow-release, granular fertilizer to the soil.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
However, astilbe seeds are very small, slow to germinate, and can take several years to produce flowers, according to Koether.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
This practice creates thin and bare areas for seeds to germinate and weeds to invade.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 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
See All Example Sentences for germinate
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Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
However, astilbe seeds are very small, slow to germinate, and can take several years to produce flowers, according to Koether.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
This practice creates thin and bare areas for seeds to germinate and weeds to invade.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 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
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Cite this Entry
“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinate. Accessed 15 May. 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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