seed 1 of 2

noun

ˈsēd How to pronounce seed (audio)
Definition of seednext
1
as in root
the source from which something grows or develops ancient Greece provided the seed for much of Western civilization's political and philosophical thought

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2
as in offspring
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant the famous stallion's seed can be found on racetracks all over the world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seed

2 of 2

verb

as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow seeded grass in the backyard

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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 seed
Noun
More than 2,000 miles from ground zero, thousands of flags were planted into West Sacramento soil to help sow the seeds of remembrance for the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center. — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 Betel nuts are prepared by grinding and processing the plant seeds with slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
Companies that auto-enroll their employees in an HSA typically seed the accounts. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026 However, when body turns up, seeding distrust among the residents. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seed
  1. root
  2. offspring
  3. plant
  4. origin
  5. fruit
  6. germ
  7. beginning
Noun
  • Those children need to know their roots, need to know that there is always a place where they are loved and welcomed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Interventions can include removing trees and vegetation or constructing barriers to isolate their roots from the house’s foundations and, at the more extreme and expensive end, underpinning the house by pumping concrete beneath the foundations.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • Myers said these teacup animals usually come about through reproductive technology and selective breeding, where people repeatedly breed the smallest animals, then use the smallest offspring to reproduce.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Bears #901 and #384 are two of her adult offspring who have been seen in the park.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of offspring
Verb
  • Popular committees stored food for curfews, set up clinics, and planted backyard gardens (until Israel outlawed them in 1988).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Buffalo Bills planted new grass at Highmark Stadium 10 months ago.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of plant
Noun
  • This double theft was central to the origins, growth, and eventual success of the English colonies and the United States—not just initially but throughout all of American history.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Together, these capabilities create a far more complete understanding of complex materials — from the atomic and nanoscale origins of behavior to system-level performance, as per the release.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of origin
Noun
  • The problems will only increase if more manufacturers follow suit now that Reynolds has broken the seal on unauthorized fruit vapes, Zeller said.
    — Sarah Todd, STAT, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Using an immersion blender, blend the fruit until liquefied and the skins have broken down.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fruit
Noun
  • Now, to the handwashing shortcomings, such as a cashier handling customer’s payment, then preparing drinks and serving plates of food to customers without washing hands (cash and payment cards tend to be germ motherships).
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In August 2025, Health and Human Services also scaled down the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet, which tracks food poisoning cases, slashing mandatory surveillance of six major germs, including cyclospora.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of germ
Noun
  • Steele’s only two league appearances over the past two seasons came at the beginning of Hurzeler’s reign in 2024-25, when Verbruggen was injured.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Finally, here’s one more restaurant to put on your list, this one at the beginning of its journey.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of beginning

Phrases Containing seed

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see after
seed
seedbed
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Cite this Entry

“Seed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seed. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seed

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