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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For budget-conscious attendees, new opportunities are emerging.
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Moffett doesn’t see any obvious M&A deals emerging from the separation of Comcast and NBCU.
Verb
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In addition to environmental education and advocacy, the center’s mission includes propagating rare and endangered native plants and rehabilitating birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians.
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Ahead, experts share their go-to methods for propagating a lemon tree the right way.
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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Are manufacturers producing vehicles that need regular software patches?
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Cape Verde’s Vozinha offered a compelling example, producing an outstanding display against Spain while executing his team’s game plan with composure to help secure a historic progression to the knockout stage.
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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Water them before planting if the pots have dried out.
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Drones offer a potential alternative cover crop seeding method by enabling interseeding of cover crops, the practice of planting one crop into another crop before harvest.
Verb
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Unlike Napa's warmer northern appellations, Frank Family's Chardonnay program is anchored in the cool-climate Carneros AVA, where fog from San Pablo Bay slows ripening and helps grapes retain bright natural acidity.
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Keep potatoes away from direct sunlight, and don't store them near onions or fruits like bananas, which release Ethylene gas that increases ripening.
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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