germinate
verb
ger·mi·nate
ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt 
germinated; germinating
: to cause to sprout or develop
1
: to come into being : evolve
before Western civilization began to germinate—
A. L. Kroeber
A. L. Kroeber2
: to begin to grow : sprout
waiting for the seeds to germinate
Examples of germinate in a Sentence
methods used by gardeners to germinate seeds
Recent Examples on the Web
After the seed germinates, continue watering daily until the seedlings are 2 inches tall.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2025
Plus, the seeds’ ability to germinate isn’t always guaranteed.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2025
Crabgrass germinates when soil temperatures reach 55°F for a few days.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
In the past, the bottom waters of the Arctic have been too cold for the cysts to germinate, but as the ocean warms, conditions are becoming ripe for reproduction.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for germinate
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Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2025
Plus, the seeds’ ability to germinate isn’t always guaranteed.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2025
Crabgrass germinates when soil temperatures reach 55°F for a few days.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
In the past, the bottom waters of the Arctic have been too cold for the cysts to germinate, but as the ocean warms, conditions are becoming ripe for reproduction.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Cite this Entry
“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinate. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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Medical Definition
germinate
verb
ger·mi·nate
ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt
germinated; germinating
: to cause to sprout or develop
: to begin to grow : sprout
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