propagate

verb

prop·a·gate | \ ˈprä-pə-ˌgāt

propagated; propagating

Definition of propagate

transitive verb

1 : to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction

2 : to pass along to offspring

3a : 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 : increase, extend

3 : to travel through space or a material —used of wave energy (such as light, sound, or radio waves)

Other Words from propagate Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about propagate

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Other Words from propagate

propagative \ ˈprä-pə-ˌgā-tiv

\ adjective

propagator \ ˈprä-pə-ˌgā-tər

\ noun

Did You Know?

The origins of propagate are firmly rooted in the field of horticulture. The word was borrowed into English in the late 16th century from Latin propagatus, the past participle of the verb propagare, which means "to set (onto a plant) a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting." Propagare, in turn, derives from propages, meaning "layer (of a plant), slip, offspring." It makes sense, therefore, that the earliest uses of propagate referred to facilitating the reproduction of a plant or animal. Nowadays, however, the meaning of propagate can extend to the "reproduction" of something intangible, such as an idea or belief. Incidentally, propaganda also comes to us from propagare, although it took a somewhat different route into English.

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

One early American conspiracy theory, propagated by religious officials in New England during the late eighteenth century, held that the Illuminati had orchestrated the French Revolution and were planning to import Jacobinism to the United States. — J.c. Pan, The New Republic, "Democratic Rot and the Origins of American Conspiracism," 3 July 2019 China’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, has repeatedly characterized the protests as foreign-instigated, a message that is echoed in Hong Kong’s Beijing-friendly newspapers (link in Chinese) and propagated by nationalistic Chinese tabloid Global Times. — Jane Li, Quartz, "A state-run Chinese newspaper is presenting alternative facts on Hong Kong’s protests," 17 June 2019 But such a phenomenon should be impossible, because Einstein’s theory of special relativity shows that no influence can propagate faster than light. — Quanta Magazine, "Real-Life Schrödinger’s Cats Probe the Boundary of the Quantum World," 25 June 2018 The village has become a perfect example of the cult of personality Xi has propagated since taking control of the nearly 90 million-strong Communist Party in late 2012. — Matt Rivers, CNN, "This entire Chinese village is a shrine to Xi Jinping," 19 Mar. 2018 The Scotsman reports that the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh already has a yew hedge propagated from cuttings from the Fortingall Yew. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "U.K.’s Oldest Tree Is Being Besieged by Tourists," 21 June 2019 Because the azaleas seem always to bloom right on time, skeptics have propagated the myth that the club’s horticulturists freeze the blossoms, in advance of the tournament, or swap out early bloomers for more coöperative specimens. — Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, "Inside the Cultish Dreamworld of Augusta National," 14 June 2019 On offense, Danny Amendola will propagate more of the quick throws and stack-and switch-releases that Patricia wants. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "NFC North Offseason Reports: How Will the Aaron Rodgers-Matt LaFleur Marriage Work?," 12 June 2019 While scientists had tried to use cross-pollination, grafting, and tip cuttings to propagate the plant, none of their attempts were successful. — Kristen Pope, National Geographic, "Extinct flower rediscovered in Hawaii, via drones," 18 Apr. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'propagate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.