1
as in emerging
to come into being
A new counterculture germinating in the city's art district.
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2
as in propagating
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 germinating
Crabgrass first appears in the spring, but new plants keep germinating throughout the summer, says Waltz.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Just avoid overlap with pre-emergent herbicides, which prevent all seeds (including grass) from germinating.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
Quinoa thrives in cool temperatures, germinating when soil temperatures are between 36°F and 68°F.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
These structures are envelopes of starch that shift and settle at the bottom of plant cells, helping the organisms to detect changes in their position and stability—and to tell germinating seeds in which direction to grow their roots.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Keep in mind, though, that the timing must be right; some seeds require cold stratification before germinating.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 10 Apr. 2026
This is important to keep weed seeds from germinating.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Don’t trample or pick the flowers and stay on the paths because even barren ground could have seeds germinating beneath.
—Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Just avoid overlap with pre-emergent herbicides, which prevent all seeds (including grass) from germinating.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
Quinoa thrives in cool temperatures, germinating when soil temperatures are between 36°F and 68°F.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
These structures are envelopes of starch that shift and settle at the bottom of plant cells, helping the organisms to detect changes in their position and stability—and to tell germinating seeds in which direction to grow their roots.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Keep in mind, though, that the timing must be right; some seeds require cold stratification before germinating.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 10 Apr. 2026
This is important to keep weed seeds from germinating.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Don’t trample or pick the flowers and stay on the paths because even barren ground could have seeds germinating beneath.
—Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinating
Verb
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Hyaluronic acid supplements are an emerging category, but both experts agree that the topical approach is the most direct and reliable way to combat dehydration.—
Ellie Davis,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
-
The sandstone lintel, showing a fearsome dragon with human arms emerging from lush foliage, once adorned the entrance to an early Khmer sanctuary.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The young tender stems are also perfect for propagating.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
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Aloe vera is a plant best reserved for propagating through offshoots.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
8 June 2026
Verb
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With a home base in SoHo– an ever-evolving art-world with galleries, studios, and museums, hip metropolitan green spaces such as the High Line, Washington and Union Squares, and designer shops and hubs are all at your fingertips.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
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The company’s expansion comes amid an evolving media landscape, where creators, entertainers, athletes, comedians and experts are building businesses across content, brand partnerships, live experiences, intellectual property and traditional media.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Moss is also executive producing under her Love & Squalor Pictures banner in addition to starring.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
12 June 2026
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Pot and column still distillates mature under Barbados' tropical heat, where aging occurs much faster than in cooler climates, producing remarkable depth.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Many travelers dream of one day living abroad, but a growing number of US citizens are making that fantasy a reality.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
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The findings, the latest in a growing body of research about the vaccine’s benefits for heart health, suggest such benefits observed in earlier studies have persisted for years.—
Daniel Wu,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Clearly, whoever had previously owned the place wasn't just planting crops.—
Jacqueline Goldblatt,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2026
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Plant Varieties With Different Bloom Times There are early, mid-season, and late peony cultivars, and planting some of each type stretches the peony bloom up to several weeks.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Verb
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An overripe berry can accelerate ripening in the fruit it is being stored with.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
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How Microwaving Affects the Avocado The microwave method is considered an emergency softening shortcut, not a true ripening technique.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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