gestate

play

verb ges·tate \ ˈje-ˌstāt \

Definition of gestate

gestated; gestating

transitive verb

1 :to carry in the uterus during pregnancy

2 :to conceive and gradually develop in the mind

intransitive verb

:to be in the process of gestation

Recent Examples of gestate from the Web

Now, Amazon has announced long-gestating plans for its own experiment in alternative history, but of an altogether different flavor.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "Can Amazon's 'Black America' be a salve to HBO's 'Confederate'?," 2 Aug. 2017
That is, the right enjoyed by women is a right to stop gestating, not a right to end the existence of the fetus.

— margot cleveland, National Review, "Artificial Wombs Reveal an Ugly Truth about the Abortion-Rights Movement," 31 July 2017
On Monday, the Bartlett High School Booster Club received a $500,000 donation for the long-gestating project, according to officials.

— rafael guerrero, Elgin Courier-News, "Bartlett High School set to begin work on athletic complex," 21 July 2017
On Friday, Paramount announced that the long-gestating Top Gun sequel will fly into theaters on July 12, 2019.

— derek lawrence, PEOPLE.com, "Top Gun 2 Lands Director and Release Date," 1 July 2017
Boyz in the Hood director John Singleton helped develop the long-gestating biopic about his close friend, but dropped out in 2015 due to creative differences with the studio.

— patrick ryan, USA TODAY, "Tupac biopic 'All Eyez On Me' keeps ticking off rapper's celeb friends," 24 June 2017
And like Trump, left-wing conspiracists are using Twitter to gestate and market-test their most outlandish forms of political insanity.

— colin dickey, New Republic, "Karl Rove panicked on live television," 8 June 2017
People throw parties, make music videos, and even shoot off guns filled with pink or blue powder to announce the gender of their gestating fetuses.

— jenni miller, The Cut, "Lauren Conrad’s Gender-Reveal Announcement Was Very Chill," 4 June 2017
The long-gestating Dirty Dancing musical premiered on ABC to a so-so 1.3 rating in the key demo and 6.6 million viewers.

— michael o'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, "TV Ratings: 'Empire' Finale Pops, 'Dirty Dancing' Does OK on ABC," 25 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gestate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gestate

back-formation from gestation

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1858

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

gestate

play

verb ges·tate \ ˈjes-ˌtāt \

medical Definition of gestate

gestated; gestating

transitive verb

:to carry in the uterus during pregnancy

intransitive verb

:to be in the process of gestation

Learn More about gestate

See words that rhyme with gestate

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up gestate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

gestate

Definition of gestate

Recent Examples of gestate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gestate

Medical Dictionary

gestate

medical Definition of gestate

Learn More about gestate

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

holus-bolus

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Welcome to the New Words

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Name that Color!

True or False?

Word Winder's CrossWinder

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Trending: 'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066

gestate

Definition of gestate

People Are Reading

Recent Examples of gestate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gestate

Medical Dictionary

gestate

medical Definition of gestate

Learn More about gestate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Trending: 'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066