propagate

verb

prop·​a·​gate ˈprä-pə-ˌgāt How to pronounce propagate (audio)
propagated; propagating

transitive verb

1
: to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction
2
: to pass along to offspring
3
a
: to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area : extend
b
: to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (something, such as an idea or belief) : publicize
c
: to transmit (something, such as sound or light) through a medium

intransitive verb

1
: to multiply sexually or asexually
2
3
: to travel through space or a material
used of wave energy (such as light, sound, or radio waves)
propagative adjective
propagator noun

Did you know?

The origins of propagate are firmly rooted in the field of horticulture. The word is a 16th century Latin borrowing, ultimately from the verb propagare, which means "to set (onto a plant) a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting." The word's meaning quickly extended from the realm of the farm and field to less material kinds of reproduction, such as the spreading of ideas and beliefs. The similarity between propagate and propaganda is not coincidental; that word also comes to us from propagare, although it took a more circuitous route.

Examples of propagate in a Sentence

We are discovering new ways to propagate plants without seeds. He propagated the apple tree by grafting. The plants failed to propagate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s propagated when its pieces are naturally broken off by wind or animals feathering nests. Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2024 Because of the cultural connections between niche groups, ideas and messages are more likely to amplify via network effects and propagate into the broader populous—transferring the kind of credence that media dollars could never buy. Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 The 60-year-old continued his cryptic message, chastising liars and those who propagate and promote falsehoods and inauthenticity. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Russia needs soldiers, IT specialists, workers for its military-industrial complex, and an obedient rising generation that has been indoctrinated in the revanchist and simplified history propagated in the new textbooks. Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for propagate 

Word History

Etymology

Latin propagatus, past participle of propagare to set slips, propagate, from propages slip, offspring, from pro- before + pangere to fasten — more at pro-, pact

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of propagate was in 1535

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Dictionary Entries Near propagate

Cite this Entry

“Propagate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propagate. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

propagate

verb
prop·​a·​gate ˈpräp-ə-ˌgāt How to pronounce propagate (audio)
propagated; propagating
1
: to have or cause to have offspring : multiply sense 1
ways to propagate plants without seeds
propagate an apple by grafting
2
: to cause (as an idea or belief) to spread out and affect a greater number or wider area
propagate a faith

Medical Definition

propagate

verb
prop·​a·​gate ˈpräp-ə-ˌgāt How to pronounce propagate (audio)
propagated; propagating

transitive verb

1
: to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction
2
: to cause to spread or to be transmitted

intransitive verb

: to multiply sexually or asexually
propagable adjective
propagative adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on propagate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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