Thesaurus results for DERIVE

Q: How does the verb 'derive' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of derive are arise , emanate , flow , issue , originate , proceed , rise , spring , and stem . While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," derive implies a prior existence in another form. // the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

Q: How do 'arise' and 'rise' relate to one another, in the sense of 'derive'?

Arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent. // new questions have arisen // slowly rose to prominence

Q: When might 'emanate' be a better fit than 'derive'?

In some situations, the words emanate and derive are roughly equivalent. However, emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source. // reports emanating from the capital

Q: How are the words 'flow' and 'spring' related as synonyms of 'derive'?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception. // words flowed easily from her pen

Q: When can 'issue' be used instead of 'derive'?

While in some cases nearly identical to derive , issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet. // blood issued from the cut

Q: When would 'originate' be a good substitute for 'derive'?

While the synonyms originate and derive are close in meaning, originate implies a definite source or starting point. // the fire originated in the basement

Q: Where would 'proceed' be a reasonable alternative to 'derive'?

The synonyms proceed and derive are sometimes interchangeable, but proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause. // advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

Q: When is it sensible to use 'spring' instead of 'derive'?

The words spring and derive can be used in similar contexts, but spring implies rapid or sudden emerging. // an idea that springs to mind

Q: When could 'stem' be used to replace 'derive'?

Although the words stem and derive have much in common, stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development. // industries stemming from space research

derive

verb

di-ˈrīv

Definition of derive next

as in to understand

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information from the summit, he was able to derive his location from the position of several prominent landmarks

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How does the verb derive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of derive are arise, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, spring, and stem. While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

How do arise and rise relate to one another, in the sense of derive?

Arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen

slowly rose to prominence

When might emanate be a better fit than derive?

In some situations, the words emanate and derive are roughly equivalent. However, emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

How are the words flow and spring related as synonyms of derive?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

When can issue be used instead of derive?

While in some cases nearly identical to derive, issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

When would originate be a good substitute for derive?

While the synonyms originate and derive are close in meaning, originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

Where would proceed be a reasonable alternative to derive?

The synonyms proceed and derive are sometimes interchangeable, but proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

When is it sensible to use spring instead of derive?

The words spring and derive can be used in similar contexts, but spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

When could stem be used to replace derive?

Although the words stem and derive have much in common, stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of derive But polymers can also be natural and derived from nature. —

Cara Ocobock, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2026 Instead, it is broken down during digestion into individual amino acids, the same building blocks derived from all protein-containing food. —

Leeann Weintraub, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026 This could derive from the same issue as Kansas City’s fourth-quarter woes. —

Sam McDowell 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026 Much of the group’s cosmology derives from The Urantia Book, a mishmash of Christianity, metaphysics, and esoteric spirituality, that was purportedly written by celestial beings and published anonymously in 1955. —

Jane Borden, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for derive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derive

Verb

The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Those many Americans who still understand that freedom is the magic elixir that drives growth and prosperity are exiting blue states, leaving them to stew in their left-wing, socialist, low-growth and low-opportunity juices.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026

Definition of understand

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“Derive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 15 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

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