mutate

verb

mutated; mutating

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo mutation
mutative adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nowadays, the birds would be mutated. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025 Stardom has splintered, expanded, mutated in the decades since the fall of the studio system that minted and owned its stars under contract. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025 Locals such as Dominio de Atauta winemaker Jaime Suárez call Tempranillo tinto fino (fine red) or tinta del pais (red of the country) to differentiate it from the same grape grown elsewhere in the country, as it is said to have mutated due to the region’s altitude, climate, and soils. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2025 Advertisement The study involved 29 patients with Huntington’s disease who were given one of two doses of gene therapy that targeted the huntingtin gene, which is mutated in the disease. Alice Park, Time, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mutate

Word History

Etymology

Latin mutatus, past participle of mutare

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of mutate was in 1818

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mutate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mutate

verb
mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt How to pronounce mutate (audio)
mutated; mutating
: to undergo or cause to undergo mutation

Medical Definition

mutate

verb
mutated; mutating

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo mutation
mutative adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on mutate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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