reproduce

verb

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

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 Today, however, many females have yet to reproduce at all. Joshua Reed, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2024 Manatees are slow swimmers and slow to reproduce − a female has one calf at a time and may tend to it for two years, according to wildlife experts. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 The recent Times lawsuit and another filed by Universal Music Group show that LLMs sometimes reproduce their training text. Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 29 Feb. 2024 Bees and ants reproduce quickly–a queen can lay up to thousands of eggs in a day. Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024 Almost every major successful multicellular life form reproduces with germ cells. Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 The films that correspond to these old ideas and continue to reproduce them have it much easier than the films that want to explore, experiment and search for new images. Ed Meza, Variety, 18 Feb. 2024 The toughness of leathers is reproduced in delicate oxidised suits to create garments that echo the decorative butchness of the source material, while inflecting them with tenderness. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024 Under these conditions, whales become thinner, more vulnerable to disease and less likely to reproduce. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reproduce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near reproduce

Cite this Entry

“Reproduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reproduce. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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