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

Ida’s brother in New York sponsored William Bienstock, who immigrated to the U.S. in June 1939. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025

Earlier this year, a celebration of the Purepecha community, an indigenous group that immigrated to the Chicago area, was postponed due to the fear the community expressed over immigration enforcement agents in the area. —Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025

In search of a better life, Cuauhtemoc Chavez immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, earned his citizenship in World War II, and married Maria Calderon. —Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

That gave him five years of experience under his belt as the young chef immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island at 16. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 6 May 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