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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In the footage, three children appear to be emerging from the rubble one after another, seemingly without major injuries, as rescuers provided assistance.
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The renowned, often feared lawyer dedicated years of pro-bono time to saving emerging designers from their troubles and steering their careers upward.
Verb
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Ahead, experts share their go-to methods for propagating a lemon tree the right way.
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The young tender stems are also perfect for propagating.
Verb
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Driven by a growing panic over fast-evolving Chinese tech competitors, the old-world rivals are abandoning the tradition of corporate secrecy.
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Asia’s defense expansion reflects a structural shift in global security and industrial capacity, shaped by geopolitics, technology, and evolving alliances.
Verb
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Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Campbell, California, Orbital Composites develops robotic additive manufacturing systems for producing advanced composite and high-temperature components for defense, aerospace, and energy applications.
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Longer gaps between disclosures could allow larger pools of uncertainty to accumulate beneath the surface, producing fewer but more severe repricing events when conditions finally become visible to markets.
Verb
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Yet robust economic growth has proved elusive, even as government debt has climbed, leaving successive administrations with little firepower to fix a growing list of related challenges, from crumbling infrastructure to a chronic housing shortage.
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With stages stretching from Freedom Corner to the Point and crowds growing every year, Pittsburgh’s Juneteenth celebration has evolved into a centerpiece of the city’s summer calendar and a living testament to Black culture, commerce and community pride downtown.
Verb
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Instead, strive for a layered effect, planting low-growing flowers and foliage at the edge of the bed and the dahlias in the center.
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Also, aim to create year-round appeal by planting about a third to half evergreens with the rest deciduous shrubs and perennials.
Verb
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Los Niños benefited from the slow and even ripening conditions, allowing for a relatively late harvest that led to high concentration and vibrant acidity.
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For peaches that are still ripening, keep them at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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