mates 1 of 2

plural of mate
1
2
3
4
5

mates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mate
as in sleeps
to engage in sexual intercourse cats conceive almost every time they mate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mates
Noun
Male fruit flies use their aedeagi to pierce their mates’ vaginal wall and inject peptides into their bloodstream, possibly to reduce their interest in other mates. Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Room and his Curaçao mates held a talented Ecuador team at bay. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026 While his national team-mates were labouring in London, he was enthused. Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026 Rumors swirled that Lachlan and his Scottish country mates — the traveling pep squad known as the Tartan Army — had drained the pub of all its beer on Sunday night. Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 19 June 2026 At the parade, the former cast mates were among dozens of stars celebrating the Knicks after their improbable playoff run. Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Lovely as a single serve or batch up in a big jug for the group stages and let your mates help themselves. Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 My lunch-mates opt for the Gillardeau oysters and sashimi mix. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026 Rachel Bilson and Wilson Bethel reunited at PlutoTV’s 15th anniversary celebration of the heartwarming show, alongside cast mates Jaime King and Kaitlyn Black. Selena Schorken, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
Verb
His rotation mates Jameson Taillon (20) and Shota Imanaga (17) have given up the most in the majors. Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 The centre-forward is increasingly aware of these situations, positioning himself correctly or attacking the right space to offer his team-mates an option when City are attacking the wide areas. Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mates
Noun
  • In a way, the fact that Huston was made up of two halves — one part iconoclastic maverick, one part old school craftsman — gave him an edge his fellow septuagenarians lacked.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 June 2026
  • So, to combat the effect of the heat and protect the teams, world soccer governing body FIFA introduced hydration breaks in both halves of every match played at the tournament.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Escalating violence Sydney’s western suburbs are ground zero for a turf war that’s seen criminal gangs shoot up rivals’ homes, ignite cars and businesses, kidnap and kill associates and terrorize their families.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Screenshots shared with The Charlotte Observer by Moore show Bogan has repeatedly messaged Reform Stables’ business associates or fellow event organizers with allegations about the stable and Moore, and insulted him online.
    Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Her two assistants, Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, are also American women.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
  • Kafka worked with Petzing and offensive line coach Hank Fraley — both assistants in Minnesota — that same year.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • Be patient with kids and romantic partners, because squabbles might arise.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 26 June 2026
  • Its story resonated deeply with Catherine Blanc-Maurizi, producer at Offshore, who brought the project to the aforementioned partners and also got co-directors Maud Garnier and Marc Robinet on board.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • For the admiral, this has always been a revenge mission against the Sea Snake, the man who has ruled the Narrow and Summer Seas for far too long, killing her friends along the way.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • AIs will be our friends, our confidants, our therapists, our doctors, our employees, our business partners—and yes, in many cases, our romantic partners and lovers.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Pick your poison, babe, for a Swift-centric escape in the city that never sleeps.
    Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026
  • The options range from a $200 blow-up stargazing tent to an $850 mini mansion that sleeps 12.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • So, the two were fitting companions in a tribute to jewelry’s earliest origins.
    Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
  • The corgi mascot is a nod to Queen Elizabeth II, who loved the breed and was known to keep many as companions throughout her reign.
    Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • His wife, Francisca, and their two young sons were surrounded by relatives, friends, and colleagues during the ceremony.
    Doug Myers, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • In fact, many of us often end up buying things that our colleagues found during their search.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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