mutate

verb

mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt  myü-ˈtāt 

mutated; mutating

intransitive verb

: to undergo mutation

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo mutation

mutative

ˈmyü-ˌtā-tiv  -tə-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms of mutate

• change
• vary
• shift

Examples of mutate in a Sentence

a disease that mutates genes in humans

a group of mutated genes

Over time, her feelings mutated from hatred into love.

opera singers mutating into pop stars

Recent Examples on the Web

The story centers on Se-jeong, a biotechnology professor who is attending an industry conference when a fast-mutating virus is released, sending the event into chaos. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026

Operating somewhere between the steamy formlessness of Topdown Dialectic and the tactile throb of Shackleton, Vasin uncovers some of his most distinctive rhythms by mutating the space surrounding his samples. —Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026

In an ironic twist, the American president became the regime’s midwife, forcing the old order to mutate and reinvent itself. —Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026

Not just as a video game adaptation, but as a snapshot of cinema mutating in real time. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin mutatus, past participle of mutare

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for mutate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

mutate

verb

mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt 

mutated; mutating

: to undergo or cause to undergo mutation

Medical Definition

mutate

verb

mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt  myü-ˈ 

mutated; mutating

intransitive verb

: to undergo mutation

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo mutation

mutative

ˈmyü-ˌtāt-iv  ˈmyüt-ət- 

adjective