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

Scientists predicted that this temperature would precipitate a coral die-off in the Great Barrier Reef later this year. — Eleanor Hildebrandt, Popular Mechanics, "A Single Heat Wave Killed One Third of Spectacled Fruit Bats in Australia," 18 Jan. 2019 My interest in maximum cubic capacities and automatic defrost cycles was not precipitated by a craving for Hungryman dinners or initiation into a doomsday cult. — Sarah Karnasiewicz, WSJ, "Why Serious Cooks Are In Love With Frozen Food," 1 Feb. 2019 Diederich noted that the CSU's motivation in precipitating the crisis likely stemmed from its interest in fending off the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) in October's elections. — chicagotribune.com, "Merkel prevents breakup of German government with immigration deal," 2 July 2018 But just as Kate Middleton's sapphire engagement ring precipitated a surge in untraditional engagement rings, Pippa's Asscher cut ring is sure to inspire a trend this summer. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Everything You Need To Know About Pippa Middleton's Wedding and Engagement Rings," 20 May 2017 The Volt’s creation became a symbol of GM’s emergence from bankruptcy, a fate precipitated by its heavy reliance on gas-guzzling trucks and sport-utility vehicles amid soaring gas prices. — Mike Colias, WSJ, "GM Bids Farewell to Its Breakthrough Electric Car," 9 Dec. 2018 So Trump, despite seeming eager just a few days earlier to take credit for a shutdown and precipitating the crisis by threatening to veto a spending bill, is pointing his finger at the Democrats. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Why the blame game over the government shutdown is pointless," 21 Dec. 2018 Many in Madrid will mistrust Mr Torra’s government as long as Mr Puigdemont, who precipitated Spain’s deepest constitutional crisis since the return of democracy in 1978, is seen to be pulling the strings. — The Economist, "Catalonia’s new president is a secessionist, like the previous one," 17 May 2018 Early the next morning, Lack was back in the office, holding a series of meetings to try to explain to shellshocked employees what precipitated such an unprecedented move. — Sarah Ellison, chicagotribune.com, "With new allegations against Tom Brokaw, NBC faces skepticism in remedying sexual harassment," 26 Apr. 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.