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precipitate

verb pre·cip·i·tate \ pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt \
|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of precipitate

precipitated; precipitating
transitive verb
1 a : 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
3 a : to cause to separate from solution or suspension
b : to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
intransitive verb
1 a : to fall headlong
b : to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2 : to move or act with violent or unwise speed
3 a : to separate from solution or suspension
b : to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
—

precipitative

play \pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtā-tiv\ adjective
—

precipitator

play \pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtā-tər\ noun

See precipitate defined for English-language learners

See precipitate defined for kids

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Examples of precipitate in a Sentence

  1. 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
  2. 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

  3. Her death precipitated a family crisis.

  4. The budget problem was precipitated by many unexpected costs.

  5. minerals that precipitate from seawater

Recent Examples of precipitate from the Web

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.

Origin and Etymology of precipitate

Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare, from praecipit-, praeceps — see precipice

precipitate Synonyms

Synonyms

pour, rain, storm;

Near Antonyms

drizzle, mist, sprinkle;

Related Words

shower;

hail, squall;

deluge, drown, engulf, flood, inundate, swamp;

Phrases

rain cats and dogs;

2

precipitate

noun pre·cip·i·tate \ pri-ˈsi-pə-tət , -ˌtāt \

Definition of precipitate

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

See precipitate defined for English-language learners

Examples of precipitate in a Sentence

  1. 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

  2. the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances

  3. the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution

Recent Examples of precipitate from the Web

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.

Origin and Etymology of precipitate

New Latin praecipitatum, from Latin, neuter of praecipitatus — see 1precipitate

precipitate Synonyms

Synonyms

deposit, deposition, dregs, grounds, sediment, settlings;

Related Words

lees;

ooze, silt, sludge;

dross, slag, waste;

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

3

precipitate

adjective pre·cip·i·tate \ pri-ˈsi-pə-tət \

Definition of precipitate

1 a : falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
b : precipitous, steep
2 : exhibiting violent or unwise speed
—

precipitately

adverb
—

precipitateness

noun

See precipitate defined for English-language learners

Examples of precipitate in a Sentence

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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

  4. the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle

Recent Examples of precipitate from the Web

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.

Did You Know?

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."

Origin and Etymology of precipitate

see 1precipitate

precipitate Synonyms

Synonyms

cursory, flying, hasty, headlong, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell, precipitous, rash, rushed;

Antonyms

deliberate, unhurried, unrushed;

Near Antonyms

calculated, calculating, measured;

circumspect, foresighted, forethoughtful;

drawn-out, extended, long-term, prolonged;

faltering, hesitant, hesitating, tentative;

dallying, dawdling, laggard, leisurely, poky (or pokey), shilly-shallying, slow;

Related Words

breakneck, breathtaking;

headstrong, heady, hotheaded, impatient, impetuous, impulsive, madcap, reckless, unadvised;

quick, rapid, speedy, swift;

horseback, impromptu, makeshift, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, rush, slapdash, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment;

abrupt, sudden;

Synonym Discussion of precipitate

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

PRECIPITATE Defined for English Language Learners

precipitate

verb

Definition of precipitate for English Language Learners

  • : to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly

  • : to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process

  • : to cause (something solid) to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process

precipitate

noun

Definition of precipitate for English Language Learners

  • : a solid substance that is separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process

precipitate

adjective

Definition of precipitate for English Language Learners

  • : happening very quickly or too quickly without enough thought or planning

PRECIPITATE Defined for Kids

precipitate

verb pre·cip·i·tate \ pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt \

Definition of precipitate for Students

precipitated; precipitating
1 : to cause to happen suddenly or unexpectedly
  • The misunderstanding precipitated a quarrel.
2 : to change from a vapor to a liquid or solid and fall as rain or snow
3 : to separate from a solution
  • The procedure called for precipitating salt from seawater.

Medical Dictionary

1

precipitate

verb pre·cip·i·tate \ pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt \

medical Definition of precipitate

precipitated; precipitating
transitive verb
1 : to bring about especially abruptly
2 a : to cause to separate from solution or suspension
b : to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
intransitive verb
1 : to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2 : to separate from solution or suspension
2

precipitate

noun pre·cip·i·tate \ pri-ˈsip-ət-ət, -ə-ˌtāt \

medical Definition of precipitate

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

Learn More about precipitate

  1. See words that rhyme with precipitate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for precipitate Spanish Central: Translation of precipitate Nglish: Translation of precipitate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of precipitate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about precipitate

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precipitate

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