precipitate

verb

pre·cip·i·tate | \ pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt

precipitated; precipitating

Definition of precipitate

(Entry 1 of 3)

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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Other words from precipitate

Verb

precipitative \pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtā-tiv

\ adjective

precipitator \pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtā-tər

\ noun

Adjective

precipitately adverb

precipitateness noun

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

Last February, when SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket tossed CEO Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster toward Mars, the event precipitated a minor planetary-protection crisis—the car had not been sterilized for an unlikely-but-possible impact with the Red Planet. — Leonard David, Scientific American, "As Space Becomes a Busy Place, NASA Bolsters Its Planet-Contamination Police," 3 July 2018 Furious that special counsel Robert Mueller has expanded his investigation, an unbridled Trump could fire him—precipitating a constitutional crisis and in effect a civil war between Trump supporters and the rest of America. — Robert Reich, Newsweek, "Robert Reich: Donald Trump Has Become The Mad King," 19 Mar. 2018 The emergence of Lewerke, who took more than 95 percent of the snaps this fall, precipitated the postseason transfer of Messiah deWeaver. — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan State solid with QB Brian Lewerke; changes coming behind him," 8 Jan. 2018 The Mercers’ move -- and Trump’s maneuvering to precipitate it -- illustrates the depth of the president’s rift with Bannon, who is quoted in a book by author Michael Wolff criticizing Trump and insulting the Trump family. — Jennifer Jacobs, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Isolates ‘Leaker’ Bannon in Feud as Mercers Cut Off Money," 4 Jan. 2018 There’s also a whacked-out running joke about a baby who resides in the Once-ler’s desk drawer, and is brought out at one point only to precipitate a small incident. — James Hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "At Old Globe, 'The Lorax' brings Dr. Seuss' environmental saga to vivid life," 8 July 2018 Below those concentrations salt cannot precipitate. — Bob Weber, chicagotribune.com, "Readers urge for clarification on salt water in car washes," 25 Mar. 2018 At Wealthfront, on the other hand, a recent $75 million investment round led by Tiger Global Management, which is more of a hedge fund than a venture capital firm, seems to have precipitated a much more drastic change. — Felix Salmon, WIRED, "Beware of Roboadvisors Bearing Low Fees," 20 Mar. 2018 Hawk was one of the first athletes to embrace both Twitter and Instagram, and his large fanbase on those platforms (over seven million followers, combined) has precipitated big-time endorsement deals. — Si.com Staff, SI.com, "How Joey Chestnut Dominates July 4, Tony Hawk's Other Major Talent and More," 6 July 2018

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.