emanate

verb

em·​a·​nate ˈe-mə-ˌnāt 

emanated; emanating

intransitive verb

: to come out from a source

a sweet scent emanating from the blossoms

transitive verb

: emit

she seems to emanate an air of serenity

Synonyms of emanate

• radiate
• emit
• cast

Choose the Right Synonym for emanate

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen

slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of emanate in a Sentence

Good smells emanated from the kitchen.

Constant criticism has emanated from her opponents.

Happiness seems to emanate from her.

She seems to emanate happiness.

Recent Examples on the Web

After sitting untouched, the car was impounded and towed to a lot in Hollywood, where an employee alerted police to a foul smell emanating from the vehicle. —Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026

To stand here is to feel shock, cruelty and despair emanating from the red clay of north Georgia. —Keith Sharon, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026

The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a spiral galaxy swirling through the darkness of space, emanating an otherworldly glow through its cosmic, branching arms. —Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026

The image posted by the president Sunday night showed Trump wearing a biblical-style robe and laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers — while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. —Will Weissert, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin emanatus, past participle of emanare, from e- + manare to flow

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for emanate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

emanate

verb

em·​a·​nate ˈem-ə-ˌnāt 

emanated; emanating

1

: to come out from a source

a scent emanating from the flowers

2

: emit sense 1a, give out

seems to emanate confidence

emanation

ˌem-ə-ˈnā-shən

noun

emanational

-shnəl, 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

emanative

ˈem-ə-ˌnāt-iv

adjective

Medical Definition

emanate

verb

em·​a·​nate ˈem-ə-ˌnāt 

emanated; emanating

intransitive verb

: to come out from a source

transitive verb

: to give out or emit