origins

noun

plural of origin
1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in roots
the source from which something grows or develops the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended they could trace their origins back 15 generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 origins Each of those questions allows respondents to list their national origins. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026 But with new information coming in from space telescopes, and astronomers eager to understand this object better, these clues are leading us closer and closer to the true origins of this strange comet. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 24 June 2026 Unlike the first two installments, Silo season 3 features a split-timeline narrative that introduces a host of new characters and delves into the mystery of the silo's origins. — Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 In the 30-minute interview, William shared the origins of his love of soccer, attending Swift’s Eras Tour in 2024, and his thoughts on the World Cup so far. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026 The new production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way. — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 24 June 2026 The hotel’s design, by Stonehill Taylor, marries New England iconography with Asian motifs that ring true to Raffles’ origins in Singapore. — Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 2 July 2026 In The History of Every Thing, Popular Science uncovers the hidden stories and surprising origins behind everyday things. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 The origins of the Fourth of July date back to July 4, 1776, when the United States unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origins
  1. sources
  2. roots
  3. lineages
  4. cradles
  5. beginnings
  6. ancestries
  7. pedigrees
  8. genealogies
Noun
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth planned to announce at a June NATO meeting even steeper cuts that could add up to the one-third reduction Trump raised, according to two sources.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Small modular and advanced nuclear reactors are increasingly being explored as long-term power sources for energy-intensive facilities.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Definition of sources
Noun
  • The roots of the fall-out stretch back to 2019, before filming for the franchise’s fourth feature instalment began, when Margera signed a wellness agreement with the producers which committed him to sobriety amid his struggles with alcoholism.
    — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
  • Simply apply 1 to 2 inches of natural mulch, like bark mulch, over the roots of your plants to lock in soil moisture and keep the mulch line at least 1 inch away from the plant's stems.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
Definition of roots
Noun
  • Because everyone will have access to the same information, AI will accentuate the value of personal connections, again promoting lineages and networks that at their most extreme may appear to be sinister establishment conspiracies.
    — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • Here, however, entire evolutionary lineages may be emerging across archipelagos separated by distances that seem relatively minor on a map.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of lineages
Noun
  • Egypt, one of the word’s cradles of civilization, is also a vibrant, modern country.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
  • This 10-pack of plastic melon cradles was a lifesaver last year once my pumpkins started maturing late July.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
Definition of cradles
Noun
  • Roberts has an American Dream story - from his beginnings in an orphanage in South Korea.
    — Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Here's to family, friendship, new beginnings, and making the most beautiful memories yet.
    — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026
Definition of beginnings
Noun
  • In a small number of cases, similar ancestries were grouped together.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Eastern and western ancestries in Karelian Mesolithic dogs suggest that two lineages diverged during the Paleolithic.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of ancestries
Noun
  • Project Hail Mary’s position will also be tested against new releases from filmmakers with stronger Oscar pedigrees.
    — Sophia Morano, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • The pedigrees of the players are, of course, very strong.
    — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Definition of pedigrees
Noun
  • The seal texts often introduced the owners with their names, genealogies, gender, professions and hometowns.
    — Serdar Yalçin, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Transcripts, grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, glyph studies, botanical studies, commentaries, articles, editions of codices, correspondence, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, Maya Society materials, genealogies of Maya families, and Mayan glyphs on moveable type.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of genealogies

Browse Nearby Words

originators
origins
orison
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Cite this Entry

“Origins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origins. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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