germinate

verb

ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating
Synonyms of germinatenext

transitive verb

: to cause to sprout or develop

intransitive verb

1
: to come into being : evolve
… before Western civilization began to germinate …—A. L. Kroeber
2
: to begin to grow : sprout
waiting for the seeds to germinate
germination
ˌjər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce germinate (audio)
noun
germinative
ˈjər-mə-ˌnā-tiv How to pronounce germinate (audio) -mə-nə- How to pronounce germinate (audio)
adjective

Examples of germinate in a Sentence

methods used by gardeners to germinate seeds
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, can take up to a month to germinate, explains Bob Mann, senior director of technical and regulatory affairs at the National Association of Landscape Professionals. — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026 The spores attach to the target insect, such as a carpenter ant, and germinate, spreading through the host’s body via long tendrils called mycelia. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026 Coneflower seeds will germinate best after a period of cold stratification. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026 Scott emphasizes that lychee seeds need warm, moist soil to germinate properly. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for germinate

Word History

Etymology

Latin germinatus, past participle of germinare to sprout, from germin-, germen bud, germ

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of germinate was in 1610

Rhymes for germinate

See All Rhymes for germinate

Browse Nearby Words

germinant
germinate
germination
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinate. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

germinate

verb
ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating
1
: to cause to sprout or develop
2
: to begin to grow : sprout
3
: to come into being : evolve
germination
ˌjər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce germinate (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

germinate

verb
ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating

transitive verb

: to cause to sprout or develop

intransitive verb

: to begin to grow : sprout
germination
ˌjər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce germinate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on germinate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for germinate

Nglish: Translation of germinate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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