sprout

1 of 2

verb

sprouted; sprouting; sprouts

intransitive verb

1
: to grow, spring up, or come forth as or as if a sprout
2
: to send out new growth

transitive verb

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

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

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
Even as solar and wind farms sprout up around the world, however, the very idea of renewable energy has come under attack in Australia. Michael E. Miller, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 In a single year, more than twenty galleries sprouted in the East Village alone. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 The couple tended to the flowers over the next few weeks, and before long, green shoots began to sprout, followed by budding flowers. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 And then another plan quickly sprouted: a documentary for the company’s YouTube channel. Margaret Roach, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 But Returning Rapids has brought scientists down Cataract, who find native plants returning, birds returning as shorelines emerge, beavers returning as willows and cottonwoods sprout on those shorelines. Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2024 Even better, new serviceberry and huckleberry bushes had sprouted in the stirred earth, providing bears cover and fruit. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 Cylinder Pots to Buy: For Shallow Saucers: Ficus ‘Ginseng’ A trunk-heavy architecturally sprouting specimen plant such as Ficus ‘Ginseng’ or the harder-to-come-by ‘Pelargonium cotyledonis’ would be spot-on for the minimalist plant trend when paired with a shallow saucer shape. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Between an upcoming appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the album release, De La Soul Day on March 3, a new merch store— and other surprises—Pos and Mase are continuing to water the soil that sprouted one of hip-hop’s most beloved groups. Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Her outfit—look 10 from the show—was affixed with all the bells and whistles: a lightweight, layered peplum that extended into a train, white embellishments on the bodice, and 3D sprouts emerging from the peplum and train. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 Crispy, smoky sprouts contrast beautifully with sweet tangles of jammy caramelized onions. The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024 In a large bowl, add the Brussels sprouts and toss well with all the other ingredients, minus the butter. Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 30 Jan. 2024 When the sprouts are big enough, they are transplanted in uncultivated lands around their town owned or rented by the family. Tucker Harris, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2024 Brussels sprouts can be ridiculously expensive, especially when not in season. Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024 Menu: first-course, warm Brussels sprouts salad; second-course, fried chicken tacos, veggie risotto, steaks and frites; third-course, two chocolate chip cookie dough stuffed beignets. The Courier-Journal, 5 Feb. 2024 The latest sprout comes from a collaboration between the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Daniel Buck, National Review, 3 Feb. 2024 Mid-February responsibilities ... ▪ Plant Cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower), also Irish potatoes into a sunny, well-draining garden location. Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Feb. 2024

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

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

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprout was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near sprout

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

sprout

1 of 2 verb
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
: to send out new growth : produce sprouts
vascular endothelial growth factor … has been shown to spur blood vessels to sproutGreg 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 sproutsJ. L. Marx

More from Merriam-Webster on sprout

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