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
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
Or, add a thick layer of mulch to prevent weeds from germinating.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Starting Veggie Seeds Outdoors (Direct) Directly sowing vegetable seeds in garden beds saves time, but subjects germinating seeds to weather, pests, and soil inconsistencies.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 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
And outdoor soil often contains weed seeds and disease pathogens that interfere with seeds germinating and sprouting.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
Fresh papaya seeds are covered with a slimy coating that prevents them from germinating inside the fruit.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Apply pre-emergent herbicides now to prevent summer weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass from germinating.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
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
Or, add a thick layer of mulch to prevent weeds from germinating.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Starting Veggie Seeds Outdoors (Direct) Directly sowing vegetable seeds in garden beds saves time, but subjects germinating seeds to weather, pests, and soil inconsistencies.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 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
And outdoor soil often contains weed seeds and disease pathogens that interfere with seeds germinating and sprouting.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
Fresh papaya seeds are covered with a slimy coating that prevents them from germinating inside the fruit.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Apply pre-emergent herbicides now to prevent summer weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass from germinating.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinating
Verb
-
Yet the technology for wind power that floats — as opposed to standard towers permanently attached to the sea floor — is just emerging, and has never been attempted in waters as deep as the Pacific off Northern California.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This session will explore how top owners are navigating media shifts, private capital and emerging leagues while balancing competitive success with enterprise value creation.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That means that winemakers across what is now France must have switched from domesticating wild grapes to propagating them directly—that is, cloning grapevines by taking cuttings of the plants to start new groves.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Here are two simple methods for propagating ZZ plants.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Through the director’s decade-long friendship with the duo, the film explores the evolving dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship and raises questions about the extent of a mother’s sacrifice.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
-
And the core focus of her conversations with vendors is also evolving.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The conflict involving oil-producing Gulf states, and the effective closure of a critical oil and gas shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, has sent oil prices surging globally over the past month.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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This hybridization resulted in Bradford producing fertile fruit through cross-pollination from other cultivars.—
Campbell Vaughn,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rising energy costs and supply-chain disruptions pose a considerable downside risk to the world's fastest-growing major economy.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Brown pointed to ongoing concerns in his district about road capacity and infrastructure needs, including efforts to expand NC 160 in the fast-growing Steele Creek area.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends planting mostly root vegetables, including parsnips and turnips, and leafy greens such as kale and arugula in early April.—
McClatchy,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2026
-
As mentioned above, the best way to keep these plants from taking over your yard (and others) is to avoid planting invasive species in the first place.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Netting is an effective barrier to keep squirrels away from ripening fruits and vegetables.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
For example, serviceberries provide spring-ripening fruit, red-twig dogwoods provide summer fruit, while hawthorns and crabapples provide fruit in fall and winter.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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