pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt 
precipitated; precipitating
1
a
: to throw violently : hurl
the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind—
A. B. Arons
A. B. Arons
b
: to throw down
2
: to bring about especially abruptly
precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion—John Cheever
John Cheever3
a
: to cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
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
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsi-pə-tət
-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
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsi-pə-tət
1
a
: falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
b
: precipitous, steep
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."
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
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
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
People don’t usually change with age unless their health condition precipitates it.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
Amy Graff, New York Times, 3 May 2025
While the faithful typically congregate in St. Peter's Square daily during the conclave, the public signal that a pontiff has been chosen precipitates a surge of observers rushing to be among the first to see the new pope in person.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025
Simar Bajaj, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024
To make sure that in condensing everything, there is nothing forced or too precipitate, no unwieldly jumps.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for precipitate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Jupiter’s hailstorms precipitate mushballs of ammonia.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
People don’t usually change with age unless their health condition precipitates it.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
Noun
When atmospheric rivers are pushed upward, the water vapor cools, condenses and precipitates.
—Amy Graff, New York Times, 3 May 2025
While the faithful typically congregate in St. Peter's Square daily during the conclave, the public signal that a pontiff has been chosen precipitates a surge of observers rushing to be among the first to see the new pope in person.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025
Adjective
Cancer can both aggravate and precipitate mental illness.
—Simar Bajaj, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024
To make sure that in condensing everything, there is nothing forced or too precipitate, no unwieldly jumps.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for precipitate
Cite this Entry
“Precipitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precipitate
1 of 3 verb
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt
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
precipitate
2 of 3 noun
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ət-ət
-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
: hasty sense 2
a precipitate attack
precipitately
adverb
Medical Definition
precipitate
1 of 2 verb
pre·cip·i·tate
pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt
precipitated; precipitating
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
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
: a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
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