Synonyms of germinate

germinate

verb

1

as in to emerge

to come into being

A new counterculture germinating in the city's art district.

Related Words

• emerge
• evolve
• grow
• flourish
• develop
• mature
• thrive
• form
• unfold
• prosper
• play out
• work out
• prove
• fall out
• burgeon
• shake out
• turn out
• pan out

2

as in to propagate

to cause (something, as a seed) to grow

She began by reading up on the best ways to germinate apple seeds.

Related Words

• propagate
• produce
• grow
• sprout
• plant
• ripen
• cultivate
• harvest
• root
• quicken
• sow
• breed
• reap
• culture
• promote
• tend
• gather
• glean
• crop
• raise
• dress
• rear

Dissimilar Words

• kill
• pick
• dig
• pull (up)
• cut
• pluck
• hay
• uproot
• extirpate
• mow

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of germinate

Seeds that take a long time to germinate, plants with sparse foliage, and more delicate crops like lettuce, carrots, and some herbs have a harder time competing with weeds. — Amy Brightfield, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2026

Carrot seeds will germinate in 10 to 21 days and go from seed to harvest in 50 to 75 days. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026

Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, can take up to a month to germinate, explains Bob Mann, senior director of technical and regulatory affairs at the National Association of Landscape Professionals. — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026

The spores attach to the target insect, such as a carpenter ant, and germinate, spreading through the host’s body via long tendrils called mycelia. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026