originate

verb

orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt 

originated; originating

intransitive verb

: to take or have origin : begin

That board game originated in the 1940s.

transitive verb

: to give rise to : initiate

The composer originated 10 songs for the Broadway musical.

origination

ə-ˌri-jə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• actualize
• appear
• arise
• begin
• break
• commence
• dawn
• engender
• form
• materialize
• set in
• spring
• start

Choose the Right Synonym for originate

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen

slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of originate in a Sentence

These stories originated during earlier times.

The book originated as a series of lectures.

The sound seemed to originate from outside the room.

The custom is believed to have originated in the western U.S.

He did not originate the idea.

The policy was originated by the previous administration.

Recent Examples on the Web

Zuckerburg conspiracy theory originated from ‘Big Lie’ The Zuckerberg conspiracy theory only adds to election workers’ troubles. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

The three rockets will originate at Virginia’s Wallops Flight Facility. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

The true cause, however, was less obvious and originated farther away. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

The substance found on the outside of the building at 9200 N. Green Bay Road originated outside of the store, Pick 'n Save officials said. —Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024

This name originated from the pink flowers of the wild ground phlox that bloom in early spring in the eastern United States and Canada, according to Almanac.com. —The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024

The idea originated in France and has spread in various forms to countries including Canada, Italy, Belgium and the Philippines. —Heather Knight, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Step Afrika!, as its name implies, specializes in stepping, a dance form that originated and still thrives at Black fraternities and sororities. —Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024

Which is the best treatment approach depends on which organ the tumor originated from and how much the tumor has spread at the time of diagnosis. —Alexander Olawaiye, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing originate

• originate with

Kids Definition

originate

verb

orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈrij-ə-ˌnāt 

originated; originating

1

: to bring into existence : cause to be : initiate, invent

2

: to come into existence : arise

origination

-ˌrij-ə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

originator

-ˈrij-ə-ˌnāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

originate

verb

orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt 

originated; originating

transitive verb

: to give rise to

specifically : to issue (a mortgage loan) usually for subsequent sale in a pool of mortgage loans to a secondary market compare service

intransitive verb

: to take or have origin

origination

ə-ˌri-jə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

originator

ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnā-tər 

noun