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2
as in to propagate
to cause (something, as a seed) to grow
She began by reading up on the best ways to germinate apple seeds.
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Recent Examples of germinate
In the proper conditions, the seeds will germinate.
—
Denise Chow, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Seeds germinate at different temperatures and some require periods of cold stratification, so do the homework and consider starting seeds indoors for earlier blooms.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 6 Mar. 2026
Once non-native seeds are no longer a threat to germinate, native seeds that can lay dormant for decades will have exclusive access to winter rain.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
The disease occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that germinate in the intestine and produce a dangerous toxin that attacks the nervous system.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Denise Chow, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Seeds germinate at different temperatures and some require periods of cold stratification, so do the homework and consider starting seeds indoors for earlier blooms.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 6 Mar. 2026
Once non-native seeds are no longer a threat to germinate, native seeds that can lay dormant for decades will have exclusive access to winter rain.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
The disease occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that germinate in the intestine and produce a dangerous toxin that attacks the nervous system.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for germinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinate
Verb
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Yet Grace is the one who wakes up in space, and this story emerges nonlinearly, narrative flashbacks like bursts of memory ripping through his brain, discombobulated after a long intergalactic coma.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
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These technologies are considered essential for countering emerging missile threats, particularly those that travel at extremely high speeds and are difficult to detect with traditional systems.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sparks or embers can drift into leaves or grass, triggering a fire that can rapidly propagate.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2026
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This means the fruit may not taste like the original pomegranate, as most pomegranate trees are propagated from hardwood cuttings, rather than by seed, to ensure consistent fruit production.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Wall Dancers traces how freedom and state control evolved online — a dynamic that may influence the artificial intelligence race.—
Timothy McLaughlin,
Bloomberg,
20 Mar. 2026
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Cornyn later expounded on his evolving thoughts about the legislative filibuster.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and donors in South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza and the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
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Indiana State is best known as the school that produced Celtics great Larry Bird, but the Sycamores have played in the tournament only three times since that famous NCAA championship game appearance against Magic Johnson’s Michigan State team in 1979.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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California and the nation as a whole has recently experienced a growing measles outbreak, with 29 cases reported in California and more than 1,300 nationwide.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Recent conflicts highlight the growing role of drones in combat.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinate. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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