originate
verb
orig·i·nate
ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt 
originated; originating
: to give rise to : initiate
The composer originated 10 songs for the Broadway musical.
Examples of originate in a Sentence
These stories originated during earlier times.
The book originated as a series of lectures.
The sound seemed to originate from outside the room.
The custom is believed to have originated in the western U.S.
He did not originate the idea.
The policy was originated by the previous administration.
Recent Examples on the Web
Thursday — Day 122 of the 140-day legislative session — was the last day for bills that originated in the House to be considered on first reading by that chamber under the rules its members agreed to in January.
—
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
But no one says it better than Patrick Renna, who originated the line as the trash-talking, quick-witted, and unapologetic character Ham Porter.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 29 July 2025
Device Bound Session Credentials provide users with enhanced post-authentication protection, Wen explained, by helping to ensure that only the originating device can access the active session which, therefore, reduces the risk of cookie theft and 2FA bypass.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Chance, a Genoa City Police Department detective and the wealthy scion of Chancellor Industries, had previously been portrayed by John Driscoll, Donny Boaz, Justin Gaston, and a set of child actors (including Penn Badgley) that originated the role in 1988.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for originate
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John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
But no one says it better than Patrick Renna, who originated the line as the trash-talking, quick-witted, and unapologetic character Ham Porter.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 29 July 2025
Device Bound Session Credentials provide users with enhanced post-authentication protection, Wen explained, by helping to ensure that only the originating device can access the active session which, therefore, reduces the risk of cookie theft and 2FA bypass.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Chance, a Genoa City Police Department detective and the wealthy scion of Chancellor Industries, had previously been portrayed by John Driscoll, Donny Boaz, Justin Gaston, and a set of child actors (including Penn Badgley) that originated the role in 1988.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for originate
Cite this Entry
“Originate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/originate. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
originate
verb
orig·i·nate
ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt
originated; originating
: to give rise to
specifically
: to issue (a mortgage loan) usually for subsequent sale in a pool of mortgage loans to a secondary market compare service
: to take or have origin
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