ovulation
noun
ovu·la·tion
ˌä vyə-ˈlā-shən 
ˌō-
ˌō-
: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary
Doctors have found that a few days before ovulation, as many as 30 to 50 egg follicles have begun to mature. Normally, only one will fully ripen … and the rest are lost.—
Mary Duenwald
Mary DuenwaldIn principle, ovulation takes place midway through a 28-day … cycle.—Judith N. Schwartz
Judith N. SchwartzExamples of ovulation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Follicular menstruation, ovulation.
—Outside Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Stress can influence hormone regulation, libido and ovulation.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Apple Smartwatch Deals The latest in Apple's budget smartwatch lineup, the Apple Watch 3 SE now offers advanced features including an always-on display, on-device Siri processing, ovulation estimates, sleep apnea detection, and wrist temperature sensing — while still keeping the price low.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Laird points to the possibility that long-term ovulation suppression could be a tool to delay menopause.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ovulation
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Outside Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Stress can influence hormone regulation, libido and ovulation.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Apple Smartwatch Deals The latest in Apple's budget smartwatch lineup, the Apple Watch 3 SE now offers advanced features including an always-on display, on-device Siri processing, ovulation estimates, sleep apnea detection, and wrist temperature sensing — while still keeping the price low.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Laird points to the possibility that long-term ovulation suppression could be a tool to delay menopause.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ovulation
Cite this Entry
“Ovulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ovulation. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ovulation
noun
ovu·la·tion
ˌäv-yə-ˈlā-shən
also
ˌōv-
: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary
The persistent high level of estrogen induces an abrupt release of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland, and this hormonal surge then triggers ovulation.—Hsiu-Wei Su et al., Bioengineering & Translational Medicine
Hsiu-Wei Su et al., Bioengineering & Translational MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
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