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
How To Prevent New Weeds Pre-emergent herbicide keeps weed seeds from germinating and blocks them from taking root.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 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
Black mustard roots exude allelopathic compounds that prevent seeds of other plants, including natives, from germinating.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 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
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
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For a while, SDFC had been emerging from its funk.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Through programming spanning the Grammys, Emmys, Oscars, and Cannes, his work focuses on building practical and cultural bridges between the creative industries and emerging AI tools.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Verb
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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
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Avoid propagating plants that are actively flowering.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With globally evolving dining standards, Knife Edge reveals the stress, the pressure, the resilience needed to hold your nerve in the battle for greatness.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
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Now, with the advent of the Internet and evolving consumer demands, customers can (and expect) access to their financial information via a mobile app, in real-time.—
Daniela Binatti,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The Sox sent 13 batters to the plate while producing their most runs in an inning since scoring 11 in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 7, 2023, at Great American Ball Park.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
His knowledge and love of movies fueled his writing and co-producing on the American Film Institute’s Salutes not only to Peck but to Gene Kelly, Billy Wilder, Barbara Stanwyck and Jack Lemmon.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Viola’s reaction spotlighted growing frustration among competitors who believe the ruling body is using procedural fixes to avoid addressing biological differences in girls' sports.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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In the growing realization that a four-year-degree alone won’t save them from downward mobility?—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
Verb
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To avoid this issue, pick a planter with drainage holes and cover the holes with smaller pebbles or stones before planting your peace lily inside.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
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The problem is that this is misleadingly planting dour ideas in my head and could prod me into a worse mental condition.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
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However, the capsaicin content of peppers doesn’t increase at a steady rate during the pepper-ripening process.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 May 2026
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Learning to keep bananas from ripening too quickly can help cut down on waste and earn you savings in your weekly grocery budget.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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