permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt 
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
1
: to spread or diffuse through
a room permeated with tobacco smoke
2
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
Did you know?
Permeate was borrowed into English in the 17th century from Latin permeatus, which comes from the prefix per- ("through") and the verb meare, meaning "to go" or "to pass." Meare hasn't exactly permeated English. Aside from permeate itself, its other English descendants include the relatively common permeable as well as the medical meatus ("a natural body passage") and the downright rare irremeable ("offering no possibility of return").
Examples of permeate in a Sentence
The water permeated the sand.
The smell of baking bread permeated the kitchen.
A feeling of anxiety permeated the office as we rushed to meet the deadline.
The rain permeated through the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web
Why does Lawrence sacrifice himself at the end of Havoc?
Themes of how parents’ corruption affects their children permeate throughout Havoc.
—
Skyler Trepel, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Over the past decade, cartel-forward films and TV shows—Narcos, Sicario, Breaking Bad, and their progeny—have permeated both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
—Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
The energy permeates and envelops me, and everyone who has come for the ride with us.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
Uri Berliner, who worked at NPR for 25 years, including as senior editor, has described how this ideology permeated every aspect of the organization.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permeate
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Skyler Trepel, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Over the past decade, cartel-forward films and TV shows—Narcos, Sicario, Breaking Bad, and their progeny—have permeated both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
—Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
The energy permeates and envelops me, and everyone who has come for the ride with us.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
Uri Berliner, who worked at NPR for 25 years, including as senior editor, has described how this ideology permeated every aspect of the organization.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permeate
Cite this Entry
“Permeate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permeate. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
1
: to spread throughout
a room permeated with the scent of flowers
2
: to pass through something which has pores or small openings or is of loose texture : seep through
water permeates sand
permeation
noun
ˌpər-mē-ˈā-shən
Medical Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
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