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
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
After installing a gravel patio or walkway, apply a pre-emergent herbicide to keep weeds from germinating.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 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
Black mustard roots exude allelopathic compounds that prevent seeds of other plants, including natives, from germinating.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
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
After installing a gravel patio or walkway, apply a pre-emergent herbicide to keep weeds from germinating.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 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
Black mustard roots exude allelopathic compounds that prevent seeds of other plants, including natives, from germinating.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinating
Verb
-
From the pale pink jeans championed by Agolde, AG, and Frame this spring to the bold pop of red denim on Isabel Marant’s Fall/Winter 2026–2027 runway, colorful denim is emerging as a trend worth watching.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
As IndieWire exclusively announces, the new program is designed to identify and elevate a single emerging filmmaker with a distinct creative voice worth championing today.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fascism, then and now, is masterful at propagating and reinforcing its ideas through an aesthetic that captivates a large number of people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Avoid propagating plants that are actively flowering.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The trial centers on the 2015 birth of the ChatGPT maker as a nonprofit startup primarily funded by Musk before evolving into a capitalistic venture now valued at $852 billion.—
Barbara Ortutay,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The production, directed with the brooding fluidity that is David Cromer’s calling card, is most alive in the evolving dynamic between Nick and Jacki, whose romance happens by degrees then all at once before reality intervenes and the criminal justice bureaucracy grinds to a halt.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Halliday collaborated with Zwick (The Last Samurai) and Marshall Herskovitz on the screenplay, with Zwick and Herskovitz of the Bedford Falls Company producing alongside Clay Pecorin of Rainmaker Films and FilmNation Entertainment.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
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The former property managers were not always prompt in producing the records needed for the audit, leaving auditors unable to obtain sufficient evidence to form an opinion on the financial statements.—
R.A. Schuetz,
Houston Chronicle,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
By mapping the chemical signatures of different growing regions, Supima can provide forensic proof that a product is exactly what the label claims.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The pageantry began Monday amid heightened security concerns and a growing rift over the Iran war.—
Michael Birnbaum,
Washington Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
McCarthy has a deft way with crafting suspense in his script, leading with character first, planting conversational bombs that go off at intervals throughout the plot.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
-
Singh recommends planting it under deciduous trees or near hostas and ferns.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Fruits are ripening and the birds are overhead migrating day and night, guided by the sun and stars on their mind-boggling journeys.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Small, white flowers bloom from late winter to early spring, with fruit ripening in the fall on mature trees.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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