immigrate

verb

im·​mi·​grate ˈi-mə-ˌgrāt 

immigrated; immigrating

intransitive verb

: to enter and usually become established

especially : to come into a country of which one is not a native for permanent residence

transitive verb

: to bring in or send as immigrants

Examples of immigrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adwoa Frimpong, whose parents immigrated from Ghana to Canada, recalls growing up in Canada and hearing her parents talk frequently about Nkrumah. —Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025

Sawayama has previously spoken about the role that pop music played in connecting her with peers at school after her family immigrated to London from Japan. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025

In 1941, Sophie Berezinski immigrated to the United States from Russia, bringing an inventory of hundreds of copper mugs with her. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025

Karla López Owens of the Indiana Democratic Latino Caucus, who is also a deputy Marion County prosecutor, said her family immigrated from Mexico with nothing. —Tony Cook, IndyStar, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin immigratus, past participle of immigrare to remove, go in, from in- + migrare to migrate

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for immigrate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

immigrate

verb

im·​mi·​grate ˈim-ə-ˌgrāt 

immigrated; immigrating

: to come into a foreign country to live

immigration

ˌim-ə-ˈgrā-shən 

noun