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
In a motion filed Friday, defense attorneys argued that publicity surrounding the case has so permeated Summit County that seating an impartial jury is no longer realistic.
—
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
This is clear on entry, as the exhibition floor itself is turned into a series of unstable ramps that rise and fall, echoing the references to the promises and disappointments of modern life that permeate the show.
—K. Desbouis, Artforum, 6 Feb. 2026
In addition to wreaking havoc inside the oven, the harmful effects of the self-cleaning function can permeate outside the oven too.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
School schedules have been erratic since the killing of Renee Good, kids of color have been caught up in the sweeps, and – try as their parents might to shelter them – children can certainly sense the conflict that permeates the urban atmosphere.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permeate
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Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
This is clear on entry, as the exhibition floor itself is turned into a series of unstable ramps that rise and fall, echoing the references to the promises and disappointments of modern life that permeate the show.
—K. Desbouis, Artforum, 6 Feb. 2026
In addition to wreaking havoc inside the oven, the harmful effects of the self-cleaning function can permeate outside the oven too.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
School schedules have been erratic since the killing of Renee Good, kids of color have been caught up in the sweeps, and – try as their parents might to shelter them – children can certainly sense the conflict that permeates the urban atmosphere.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 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 8 Feb. 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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