permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt 
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
1
: to spread or diffuse through
a room permeated with tobacco smoke
2
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
Did you know?
Permeate was borrowed into English in the 17th century from Latin permeatus, which comes from the prefix per- ("through") and the verb meare, meaning "to go" or "to pass." Meare hasn't exactly permeated English. Aside from permeate itself, its other English descendants include the relatively common permeable as well as the medical meatus ("a natural body passage") and the downright rare irremeable ("offering no possibility of return").
Examples of permeate in a Sentence
The water permeated the sand.
The smell of baking bread permeated the kitchen.
A feeling of anxiety permeated the office as we rushed to meet the deadline.
The rain permeated through the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web
Glass bottles of water, even in cars for day excursions, were a welcome break from the plastic that still permeates too many other high-end, supposedly conscious stays.
—
Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Nostalgia permeates the images.
—Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
So when warm air swept over the region, the cold air already permeating the area drained into part of the Treasure Valley and became trapped.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
Although my dad spent the past six months gazing blankly from his wheelchair, his aura had still permeated the house.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permeate
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Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Nostalgia permeates the images.
—Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
So when warm air swept over the region, the cold air already permeating the area drained into part of the Treasure Valley and became trapped.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
Although my dad spent the past six months gazing blankly from his wheelchair, his aura had still permeated the house.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permeate
Cite this Entry
“Permeate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permeate. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
1
: to spread throughout
a room permeated with the scent of flowers
2
: to pass through something which has pores or small openings or is of loose texture : seep through
water permeates sand
permeation
noun
ˌpər-mē-ˈā-shən
Medical Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
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