reproduce

verb

re·​pro·​duce ˌrē-prə-ˈdüs How to pronounce reproduce (audio)
-ˈdyüs
reproduced; reproducing; reproduces
Synonyms of reproducenext

transitive verb

: to produce again: such as
a
: to produce (new individuals of the same kind) by a sexual or asexual process
b
: to cause to exist again or anew
reproduce water from steam
c
: to imitate closely
sound effects can reproduce the sound of thunder
d
: to present again
e
: to make a representation (such as an image or copy) of
reproduce a face on canvas
f
: to revive mentally : recall
g
: to translate (a recording) into sound

intransitive verb

1
: to undergo reproduction
2
: to produce offspring
reproducer noun
reproducibility noun
reproducible adjective or noun
reproducibly adverb

Examples of reproduce in a Sentence

The concert will be reproduced on compact disc. Sound effects can reproduce the sound of thunder. They haven't been able to reproduce the results of the first experiment. Salmon return to the stream to reproduce offspring. The virus is able to reproduce itself very rapidly.
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.
If some species can continue reproducing even under challenging conditions, that resilience could buy ecosystems valuable time. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026 In 2023, a new preservation reproducing the original tinting was done in collaboration with the Japanese American National Museum, and the film has become widely admired. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026 What Rusbridger’s account leaves out is that the BBC has reproduced the prejudices of successive British establishments since its inception in the early twentieth century, whether by propagandizing against workers during the general strike of 1926 or by condemning the antiwar protests of 2003. Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reproduce

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of reproduce was circa 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reproduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reproduce. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

reproduce

verb
re·​pro·​duce ˌrē-prə-ˈd(y)üs How to pronounce reproduce (audio)
1
a
: to produce new individuals of the same kind
b
: to cause to exist again
reproduce water from steam
c
: to imitate closely
sound effects can reproduce the sound of thunder
d
: to present again
e
: to make an image or copy of
reproduce a face on canvas
f
: to translate a recording into sound
2
: to go through reproduction
her voice reproduces well
3
: to produce offspring
reproducer noun

Medical Definition

reproduce

verb
re·​pro·​duce ˌrē-prə-ˈd(y)üs How to pronounce reproduce (audio)
reproduced; reproducing

transitive verb

1
: to produce (new individuals of the same kind) by a sexual or asexual process
2
: to achieve (an original result or score) again or anew by repeating an experiment or test

intransitive verb

1
: to undergo reproduction
2
: to produce offspring

More from Merriam-Webster on reproduce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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