1
as in emerging
to come into being
A new counterculture germinating in the city's art district.
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2
as in propagating
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of germinating
Don’t trample or pick the flowers and stay on the paths because even barren ground could have seeds germinating beneath.
—
Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Or, add a thick layer of mulch to prevent weeds from germinating.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Starting Veggie Seeds Outdoors (Direct) Directly sowing vegetable seeds in garden beds saves time, but subjects germinating seeds to weather, pests, and soil inconsistencies.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
Black mustard roots exude allelopathic compounds that prevent seeds of other plants, including natives, from germinating.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Crabgrass is germinating; use of a preemergence for this weed may be of little value.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
And outdoor soil often contains weed seeds and disease pathogens that interfere with seeds germinating and sprouting.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
Fresh papaya seeds are covered with a slimy coating that prevents them from germinating inside the fruit.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Apply pre-emergent herbicides now to prevent summer weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass from germinating.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Or, add a thick layer of mulch to prevent weeds from germinating.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Starting Veggie Seeds Outdoors (Direct) Directly sowing vegetable seeds in garden beds saves time, but subjects germinating seeds to weather, pests, and soil inconsistencies.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
Black mustard roots exude allelopathic compounds that prevent seeds of other plants, including natives, from germinating.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Crabgrass is germinating; use of a preemergence for this weed may be of little value.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
And outdoor soil often contains weed seeds and disease pathogens that interfere with seeds germinating and sprouting.
—Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
Fresh papaya seeds are covered with a slimy coating that prevents them from germinating inside the fruit.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 13 Jan. 2026
Apply pre-emergent herbicides now to prevent summer weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass from germinating.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinating
Verb
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The summit will explore how the two worlds connect – from adapting digital IP into cinematic projects and scouting emerging talent, to engaging audiences that drive communities to theaters and exploring innovative marketing strategies.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
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The tie-up will see both festivals jointly run a program for emerging filmmakers centered on the use of artificial intelligence in the creative process.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That means that winemakers across what is now France must have switched from domesticating wild grapes to propagating them directly—that is, cloning grapevines by taking cuttings of the plants to start new groves.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
24 Mar. 2026
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Here are two simple methods for propagating ZZ plants.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Through their achievements, thought leadership, and commitment to their clients and communities, these attorneys represent the future of the legal profession and continue to shape the evolving landscape of law.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For decades, Los Choneros has exerted a profound influence over the country's escalating violence, evolving from a regional gang into a sprawling network with international reach.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The conflict involving oil-producing Gulf states, and the effective closure of a critical oil and gas shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, has sent oil prices surging globally over the past month.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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This hybridization resulted in Bradford producing fertile fruit through cross-pollination from other cultivars.—
Campbell Vaughn,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rooms With curvaceous walls, built in fast-growing Indonesian bamboo, split-level villas with a spiral staircase that winds seashell-like between a ground-floor lounge and upstairs living quarters have the grounding feel of being wrapped in a tropical bamboo forest.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Saronic, which ranked 19th on the latest CNBC Disruptor 50 list, is among a growing crop of defense companies winning over the government with the support of venture capital.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Politicians planting universal child care programs in rocky soil shouldn’t expect a garden.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
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Others got their hands dirty by planting trees, painting murals or picking up trash along park trails.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For example, serviceberries provide spring-ripening fruit, red-twig dogwoods provide summer fruit, while hawthorns and crabapples provide fruit in fall and winter.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
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Some tricks to slow down ripening and prevent bruising include separating bananas from the bunch, hanging them from a hook, and wrapping their stems in plastic wrap to prevent the release of ethylene gas.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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