precipitate

1 of 3

verb

pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
precipitated; precipitating

transitive verb

1
a
: to throw violently : hurl
the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankindA. B. Arons
b
: to throw down
2
: to bring about especially abruptly
precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsionJohn 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 adjective
precipitator noun

precipitate

2 of 3

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsi-pə-tət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
-ˌtāt
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

3 of 3

adjective

pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsi-pə-tət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
1
a
: falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
2
: exhibiting violent or unwise speed
precipitately adverb
precipitateness noun

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."

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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
Up to a fifth of all adults in the United Kingdom are neurodivergent, and the majority of those have more than one neuro-developmental condition, but employers are failing them, precipitating an often invisible wellbeing crisis. Josie Cox, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Shifting goals have precipitated new (and expensive) methods: Carbon dioxide and gibberellic acid are being used as growth stimulants; some pumpkins are fully grown in greenhouses. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
As the water increases in temperature, CaCO3 undergoes a chemical reaction and precipitates out of the water, forming incrustants, or little crystals. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2024 Gadgil and his students have been exploring several methods to perform the actual arsenic removal, generally involving binding up the poison into a precipitate that can be filtered. Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2015
Adjective
To make sure that in condensing everything, there is nothing forced or too precipitate, no unwieldly jumps. John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024 An additional factor that has been increasingly in the mix is that old and deteriorating dam infrastructure can fail amidst excessive rainfall events and precipitate catastrophic flooding. Sarah Raza, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for precipitate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precipitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Adjective

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

Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

1528, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of precipitate was in 1528

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Dictionary Entries Near precipitate

Cite this Entry

“Precipitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

precipitate

1 of 3 verb
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
precipitated; precipitating
1
a
: to throw violently : hurl
b
: to fall headlong
2
: to bring about suddenly
an event that precipitated war
3
a
: to separate or cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to change from a vapor to a liquid or solid and fall as rain or snow
precipitator noun

precipitate

2 of 3 noun
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ət-ət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
-ə-ˌtāt
: a usually solid substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change

precipitate

3 of 3 adjective
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ət-ət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
: hasty sense 2
a precipitate attack
precipitately adverb

Medical Definition

precipitate

1 of 2 verb
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
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

precipitate

2 of 2 noun
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ət-ət, -ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
: a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid

More from Merriam-Webster on precipitate

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