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
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
In between times, there are long shots of the gingko, tree’s-eye views of what is happening on the ground and squelching closeups of germinating seeds – luscious and inescapably sensual.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
The biodegradable mulch also helps conserve moisture for germinating grass.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
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
In between times, there are long shots of the gingko, tree’s-eye views of what is happening on the ground and squelching closeups of germinating seeds – luscious and inescapably sensual.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
The biodegradable mulch also helps conserve moisture for germinating grass.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinating
Verb
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The plan worked, and within hours, the animals were seen disappearing into the dark water, and emerging further down the line, to breathe from the holes the volunteers had placed in the ice above.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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The effort will boost environmentally minded independent designers, emerging talent and students in different ways with the objective being to reshape how fashion is made, produced and consumed.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The two-day trial of ten people accused of sexist cyberbullying against France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron by propagating fake and malicious claims about her sexuality and gender began in Paris on Monday.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
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The idea of waves propagating through a barrier has been around for a long time, since before the existence of quantum mechanics.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The move also represents another step in the evolving relationship between AI tools and creators and the music industry.—
Trevor Anderson,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
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Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Creating a system for producing solid-state battery cells The three companies are combining their expertise in materials science, manufacturing, and automotive design to accelerate the path toward commercializing all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs).—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
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The Gorillas brought the rush, producing seven sacks, including two each by Sam Hultz and Jeremy Sharp (Ray-Pec).—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Starbucks’ success was forged on the back of a growing demand for Western luxuries, as well as a strategy of adapting p roducts for the market –– to appeal to customers beyond China’s top-tier cities.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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His election victory reflected a growing skepticism about multilateralism and global engagement more generally among Americans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While there, the other nurses began planting the seeds of a potential career switch, encouraging her to stay in the NICU professionally.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
3 Nov. 2025
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Gardeners who learned the mistake of planting it in the ground once can attest to its ability to root easily wide and far.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pruning peppers in fall not only encourages these plants to focus their energy on ripening any remaining fruit before frost arrives but also keeps them at a more manageable size to cover them as needed.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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The bag-ripening process works like a charm.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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