pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating

transitive verb

1
: to carry out the pollination of
2
: to mark or smudge with pollen

Examples of pollinate in a Sentence

The plants are pollinated by bees.
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.
Chaste trees attract lots of pollinating insects and birds. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026 Funded through the Trust for the National Mall, the new White House hive supports the existing colonies in pollinating the nearby White House Kitchen Garden, Flower Cutting Garden and vegetation on the National Mall. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 After they get pollinated, the bluebells essentially turn into seeds for next year's bloom. John Lauritsen, CBS News, 14 May 2026 The flowers of dill will attract pollinators to your garden, which can help pollinate your zucchini plants and boost your harvest. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollinate

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollinate was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pollinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollinate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

pollinate

verb
pol·​li·​nate ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating
: to place pollen on the stigma of

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