precipitate

verb

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pre·cip·i·tate | \ pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt

precipitated; precipitating

Definition of precipitate

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to throw violently : hurl the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind— A. B. Arons

b : to throw down

2 : to bring about especially abruptly precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion— John Cheever

3a : to cause to separate from solution or suspension

b : to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit

intransitive verb

1a : to fall headlong

b : to fall or come suddenly into some condition

2 : to move or act with violent or unwise speed

3a : to separate from solution or suspension

b : to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow

precipitate

noun

pre·cip·i·tate | \ pri-ˈsi-pə-tət

, -ˌtāt \

Definition of precipitate (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid

2 : a product, result, or outcome of some process or action

precipitate

adjective

pre·cip·i·tate | \ pri-ˈsi-pə-tət

Definition of precipitate (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent

b : precipitous, steep

2 : exhibiting violent or unwise speed

Other Words from precipitate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about precipitate

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Choose the Right Synonym for precipitate

Adjective

precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous, sudden mean showing undue haste or unexpectedness. precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action. the army's precipitate withdrawal headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought. a headlong flight from arrest abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony. an abrupt refusal impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness. an impetuous lover proposing marriage sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action. flew into a sudden rage

Did You Know?

Adjective

Many people, including usage commentators, are insistent about keeping the adjectives "precipitate" and "precipitous" distinct. "Precipitate," they say, means "headlong" or "impetuous"; "precipitous" means only "steep." And, indeed, "precipitate" is used mostly in the "headlong" sense, whereas "precipitous" usually means "steep." But one shouldn't be too hasty about insisting on the distinction. The truth is that "precipitate" and "precipitous" have had a tendency to overlap for centuries. Lexicographer Samuel Johnson, in his dictionary of 1755, defined "precipitate" as "steeply falling," "headlong," and "hasty," while "precipitous" was "headlong; steep," and "hasty." Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary included much the same definitions. The words' etymologies overlap as well. Both ultimately come from Latin praeceps, which means "headlong."

Examples of precipitate in a Sentence

Verb When Achilles is informed by his mother, the sea-goddess Thetis, that vanquishing Hector on the battlefield will precipitate his own demise, he unhesitatingly opts for the gusto. — Mark Leyner, Time, 13 Nov. 2000 The vast room darkens. The videotape … begins on two identical screens set high above the nave. The soaring lyrics of LeeAnn Rimes's "How Do I Live (Without You)" precipitate a collective tension and welling, repressed tearfulness. — Jayne Anne Phillips, Harper's, November 1998 Her death precipitated a family crisis. The budget problem was precipitated by many unexpected costs. minerals that precipitate from seawater Noun Yet trained, and by nature inclined, to persevere through the stenches, messes, explosions and disasters of a laboratory, he fixed his gaze upon an unlikely precipitate: human resilience, a sort of radioactive trace element. — Richard Eder, New York Times Book Review, 16 June 2002 the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution Adjective The precipitate decline in support for Aristide has probably less to do with Haiti's political crisis than with the continuous and unrelenting economic battering: the Haitian gourde, which a year ago was trading at 27 to the dollar, by late February was down to 55 to the dollar. — Peter Dailey, New York Review of Books, 27 Mar. 2002 Almost at once I began to remember why drive-ins went into such a precipitate decline. To begin with, it is not remotely comfortable to sit in a car to watch a movie. — Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999 Assuming that the offering goes ahead—and only a precipitate slide in the stock market will stop it—a big slice of Wall Street history will disappear. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 1999 the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The potential applications could include preventing outbreaks of disease that can precipitate pandemics, managing landscapes and conserving biodiversity. — New York Times, "Skip to site index," 12 Jan. 2021 Such youngsters could precipitate incidents that marred an agency or residential treatment center’s record of contract and safety compliance, agency executives explained. — Robert T. Garrett, Dallas News, "Abused, neglected children again sleeping in CPS offices in repeat of Texas foster care crisis," 18 Dec. 2020 Besides risking infuriating India’s ruling Hindu nationalist politicians, banning Bajrang Dal might precipitate physical attacks against Facebook personnel or facilities, the report warned. — Jeff Horwitz, WSJ, "In India, Facebook Fears Crackdown on Hate Groups Could Backfire on Its Staff," 13 Dec. 2020 Could the ordeal of COVID-19 precipitate another banner year for cinematic Christmas cheer? — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, "Why 1947 and 2003 were the merriest movie years ever," 19 Nov. 2020 That the Electoral College strategy is even being talked about is a sign of weakness, not strength, and desperation is not a good reason to precipitate a constitutional crisis. — Rich Lowry, National Review, "The Completely Insane Electoral College Strategy," 13 Nov. 2020 Earlier this year, in an effort to precipitate committed action from Mexican authorities the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service announced an embargo on seafood caught in the northern Gulf of California. — Carolyn Cowan, Smithsonian Magazine, "Vaquita Genome Offers Hope for Species’ Survival," 9 Nov. 2020 The most aberrant detail of the investigation was Mueller’s decision not to compel the president to be deposed in person: a fateful choice, hard to explain on any grounds except reluctance to precipitate a constitutional crisis. — David Bromwich, Harper's Magazine, "Is America Ungovernable?," 27 Oct. 2020 To approach death is to make progress; only annihilation will precipitate the great war. — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, "The Mischievous Irreverence of “The Good Lord Bird”," 26 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Although, the dusty precipitate may be melting away with the morning sun, the snow may have left a lasting impression on our local record books. — Jared Boyd, AL.com, "How weird is snow in Mobile? Well, Friday night's snow set a record," 9 Dec. 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective This is all to the good, and better than a precipitate total withdrawal. — The Editors, National Review, "Trump’s Afghan Escalation," 22 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'precipitate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.