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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.
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Recent Examples of germinate
Some can struggle to germinate, taking too long to grow or becoming susceptible to diseases.
—
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Zucchini seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks in warm soil and can be started indoors or directly outdoors after last spring frost.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Unlike most fungal diseases, powdery mildew does not require free water on leaf surfaces to germinate; in fact, moisture on leaves can inhibit spore development.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Newly seeded: Before the seeds germinate, maintain moisture within the top inch of the soil without drowning the seeds.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Zucchini seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks in warm soil and can be started indoors or directly outdoors after last spring frost.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Unlike most fungal diseases, powdery mildew does not require free water on leaf surfaces to germinate; in fact, moisture on leaves can inhibit spore development.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Newly seeded: Before the seeds germinate, maintain moisture within the top inch of the soil without drowning the seeds.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinate
Verb
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For a while, SDFC had been emerging from its funk.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
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The architecture is fascinating, with gods carved into the design, including a waterfall emerging from Narcissus’ mouth.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Will history books that refuse to propagate the fiction that the 2020 election was stolen be allowed in red-state classrooms?—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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This allows improvements in perception, control, or task execution to propagate across multiple systems, effectively linking product iteration to system-level development.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
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According to the sheriff, multiple laboratories across the country — including federal and state partners — are collaborating behind the scenes as technology continues to evolve.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
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The update reflects the state’s evolving understanding of its most dangerous pollutants, which has shifted over the decades from visible pollutants, such as smog, to more invisible ones that cause cancer, heart disease and other health harms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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No wonder that, in the 1940s, France produced ~2B gallons of wine annually, while the US made ~150m gallons.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
15 May 2026
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Among his earliest campaign donors, according to city filings, is top unscripted producer Jeff Jenkins, known for producing The Simple Life as well as Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its offshoots.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Kreith advises using heavy duty cages for tomatoes, arches for beans, stakes for peppers and eggplant, and a trellis for cucumbers, which grow as a vine.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Isaac Rangaswami, a former tech-company copywriter, first grew a following around an Instagram account called @caffs_not_cafes, which highlighted historic, low-key, unheralded London canteens.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinate. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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