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.
The low cost and easy availability of all the necessary components means that drones can mutate fast, and any evolutionary successes – like fiber drones, which went from nothing to battle-winners in a year – may spread rapidly. David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 Wen: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is constantly mutating, and it’s entirely expected that there will be new variants. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 19 June 2025 As nearly a dozen publicity veterans told me, somewhere along the line, the press rounds mutated into something unruly. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 27 May 2025 Like the billowing, mutating cloud behind them, the dancers keep forming group and individual shapes, no sooner glimpsed than dissolved. Roslyn Sulcas, New York Times, 1 May 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 11 Jul. 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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