sprout

1 of 2

verb

ˈsprau̇t 

sprouted; sprouting; sprouts

intransitive verb

1

: to grow, spring up, or come forth as or as if a sprout

seeds sprouting in the spring

2

: to send out new growth

3

: to appear suddenly and in large numbers

—often used with up

Restaurants sprouted up all over the city.

transitive verb

: to send forth or up : cause to develop : grow

sprouting hairs

sprout

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: shoot sense 1a

especially : a young shoot (as from a seed or root)

b sprouts plural

(1)

chiefly British : brussels sprout sense 2

(2)

: edible sprouts especially from recently germinated seeds (as of alfalfa or mung beans)

2

: something resembling a sprout: such as

a

: a young person

b

: scion sense 1

Synonyms of sprout

Noun

• kid
• child
• bud
• chick
• cub

Examples of sprout in a Sentence

Verb

seeds sprouting in the spring

Potatoes will sprout in the bag if kept in a warm place.

The garden is sprouting weeds.

The tree is already sprouting leaves.

He sprouted a beard since the last time I saw him.

She dreamed that her boss had sprouted horns.

Hair sprouted on his face.

Noun

he earned the admiration of the neighborhood sprouts when he showed them how to make a slingshot

the raspberry bushes began sending out sprouts in early spring

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Taylor represents one of the many branches that’s continually sprouting from the Nick Saban coaching tree, having worked under the legendary coach at Alabama as a graduate assistant from 2007 to 2008. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Sep. 2026

At first, Gonsolin was ecstatic to step on the mound, and then, his competitive spirit began to sprout into confidence. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Noun

Even manures, unless composted,can contain ready-to-sprout seeds. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

The new seed sprouts and mixes with the old grass, giving you a thicker, healthier lawn. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English spruten, from Old English -sprūtan; akin to Old High German spriozan to sprout, Lithuanian sprausti to squeeze, thrust

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sprout

• brussels sprout
• water sprout

Rhymes for sprout

• bout
• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout

Kids Definition

sprout

1 of 2 verb

ˈsprau̇t 

1

: to grow or spring up as or as if a sprout

2

: to send out new growth

potatoes kept too warm will sprout in the bag

3

: to send forth or up : cause to develop : grow

sprout

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: shoot entry 2 sense 1a

especially : a young shoot (as from a seed or root)

2

plural : edible young shoots especially from recently germinated seeds (as of alfalfa)

Medical Definition

sprout

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈsprau̇t 

: to send out new growth : produce sprouts

vascular endothelial growth factor … has been shown to spur blood vessels to sprout

—Greg Miller

sprout

2 of 2 noun

: a new outgrowth (as of nerve tissue) resembling the young shoot of a plant

segments of the axon above the injury … produce new sprouts

—J. L. Marx