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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of germinate
Problem is, pre-emergent herbicides work by killing newly germinating seeds — all seeds.
—
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
Fire poppies are rare, germinating only in the presence of karrikins, a chemical compound in smoke, which awakens them from dormancy.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The seeds of a daylong gathering have been germinating for a while.
—Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
So this week, as Mercury reminds you to connect with grace and Venus dares you to simplify your love and money story, know that the real magic is already germinating under the surface.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
Fire poppies are rare, germinating only in the presence of karrikins, a chemical compound in smoke, which awakens them from dormancy.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The seeds of a daylong gathering have been germinating for a while.
—Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
So this week, as Mercury reminds you to connect with grace and Venus dares you to simplify your love and money story, know that the real magic is already germinating under the surface.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinate
Verb
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Can Sheppard play well enough that Houston emerges as a contender with him as its point guard?—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Nearly every duke and earl and baron in England was competing to build great rare book collections, and lots and lots of fake manuscripts emerged.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cuttings from the original hedges were used to propagate new greenery, which was replanted immediately following the Olympic games.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
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The former is a young plant company, which propagates seedlings and ships them off to be planted worldwide.—
Max Scheinblum,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Kurt's key takeaways AI is evolving faster than most security systems can keep up with.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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Paleontologists may have discovered when plant-eating dinosaurs evolved their long necks after a new species of sauropodomorph was found in Argentina.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There are videos flying around, with or without context; the US government is producing some, promoting others from random X accounts.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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Midway through the fourth quarter, the 49ers produced a fourth-down stop from their own 35-yard line.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Winding roads eventually lead to Hotel Corazón, a former finca — a country estate — growing produce on its cantilevered farmland that has been transformed by two expat artists into a boho chic retreat.—
Emilio Parra Doiztua,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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While Cab Franc’s aromas and flavors vary depending on where it is grown, winemakers and wine lovers alike are captivated by its combination of fruity and savory characteristics.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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