proliferate
verb
Did you know?
Proliferate is a back-formation of proliferation. That means that proliferation came first (we borrowed it from French in the 1700s), and was later shortened to form the verb. Proliferation originally referred to the botanical phenomenon of some plants having buds, flowers, or other parts that are adventitious—that is, that arise or occur sporadically or in other than the usual location (e.g. pitch pines’ ability to sprout new trees directly from their stumps after a fire). With advances in the study of biology in the 1800s, proliferation came to be used to refer to the rapid and repeated production of cells by division. That sense in turn begat the verb proliferate, which eventually came to be used when anything—whether living (such as yeast) or nonliving (such as data)—quickly increases or multiplies.
Examples of proliferate in a Sentence
Morgan Korn, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Backed by Celebrands — the firm also behind Halsey’s About-face color line — ‘Ôrebella has quickly established itself among the standout celebrity beauty brands of its time as the category proliferates.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
While the agency continues to investigate the extent of the damage, independent experts say the incident is a clear sign that the danger of proliferating orbital debris is only going to grow.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
Even as conventional treatments for autoimmune diseases have become more effective than ever, alternative treatments, including nutritional supplements, breathing exercises, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and cold plunges in frigid water, have proliferated.
—Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proliferate
Cite this Entry
“Proliferate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proliferate. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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proliferate
verb
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proliferate
verb
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