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
LaChance says Sitake’s daily search for joy permeates the locker room.
—
Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The venue’s intimacy, coupled with a more informal, speakeasy vibe, permeated an award ceremony that was notable for its moments of laughter and easy congeniality.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
Cowan started his career in music by organizing warehouse dance parties — that sort of bootstrap approach permeates nearly every aspect of the company — and lived in London for several years before moving to Montreal.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the chemtrail conspiracy has permeated popular culture.
—Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permeate
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Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The venue’s intimacy, coupled with a more informal, speakeasy vibe, permeated an award ceremony that was notable for its moments of laughter and easy congeniality.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
Cowan started his career in music by organizing warehouse dance parties — that sort of bootstrap approach permeates nearly every aspect of the company — and lived in London for several years before moving to Montreal.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the chemtrail conspiracy has permeated popular culture.
—Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permeate
Cite this Entry
“Permeate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permeate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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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