graduate

verb

grad·​u·​ate ˈgra-jə-ˌwāt 

graduated; graduating

intransitive verb

1

: to receive an academic degree or diploma

She graduated with honors.

2

: to pass from one stage of experience, proficiency, or prestige to a usually higher one

graduated to team leader

3

: to change gradually

transitive verb

1

a

dated : to grant an academic degree or diploma to

Some thousands of young men are graduated at our colleges in this country every year …

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

b

: to be graduated from

joined the navy after graduating high school

2

a

: to mark with degrees of measurement

b

: to divide into grades or intervals

3

: to admit to a particular standing or grade

graduator

ˈgra-jə-ˌwā-tər 

noun

Usage of Graduate

In the second half of the 19th century, many usage writers decided that graduate should only be used with an object; schools could graduate students, and students could be graduated from schools. One such commentator wrote, "students do not graduate; they are graduated." You can safely ignore this rule. "I graduated from college" is now the most common way to phrase the idea. You can also say "I graduated college" or "I was graduated from college." All three are standard, but some people may consider "I was graduated from college" outdated and "I graduated college" incorrect.

Examples of graduate in a Sentence

He graduated from the university last June.

They both graduated with honors.

She graduated with a degree in history.

He joined the navy after graduating from high school.

a graduating class of 300 students

He joined the navy after graduating high school.

The word has graduated from slang to accepted use.

My nephew has graduated from baby food to solid food.

Recent Examples on the Web

The 2026 contestants' Instagram and TikTok profiles are frozen in time, showcasing their final adventures and accomplishments (like Kenzie Annis graduating from nursing school) before they were sequestered in May, prior to their debuts in the Fijian villa. —Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Last year, when the Cougars graduated a large class, Tornell said people doubted the team’s chances. —Anya Armentrout, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026

Both boys are on track to graduate from Jones High School. —Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 June 2026

In a statement, Penn State University said Billy Schmidt was studying journalism at Penn State World Campus and was on track to graduate in December. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduatus, past participle of graduare, from Latin gradus step, degree

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for graduate

• postgraduate
• undergraduate

Kids Definition

graduate

1 of 3 noun

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-(ə-)wət 

-ə-ˌwāt

1

: a holder of an academic degree or diploma

2

: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring

graduate

2 of 3 adjective

1

: holding an academic degree or diploma

2

: of or relating to studies beyond the bachelor's degree

graduate

3 of 3 verb

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt 

graduated; graduating

1

: to grant or receive an academic degree or diploma

2

: to divide into grades, classes, or intervals

graduator

-ˌwāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

graduate

1 of 2 noun

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-(ə-)wət  -ə-ˌwāt 

: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring

graduate

2 of 2 transitive verb

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt 

graduated; graduating

: to mark with degrees of measurement