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
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Recent Examples of origins
Both filmmakers traced their creative origins to childhood encounters with monsters and Japanese animation.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Following this storyline, most accounts of Korea just after World War II look at these years for the origins of the Korean War.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
The series Witsec follows a DOJ lawyer and a hardened mob hitman, both fed up with the corrupt institutions around them, who form a precarious alliance to convict criminal titans and save lives in the rogue origins of the Witness Protection Program.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
While dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, the origins of domestic dogs are more complex than once thought.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
After a quick relocation for the celebration, the curse got transferred to Barney, who missed the parade by taking a separate cab, though by the end of the night, the curse was passed on to its origins — their friend Steve.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
In the study, scientists identified 24 minerals that chart Jezero's changing environment, highlighting both the volcanic origins of rocks in the crater and a long history of their interaction with water.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The origins of Godzilla’s name may remain a mystery, but there are no secrets related to its film escapades.
—Michael Taube, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Its origins trace back to the 19th century, when the mondine sang it—female laborers in Northern Italy's rice paddies—protesting brutal working conditions and lost youth.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
Following this storyline, most accounts of Korea just after World War II look at these years for the origins of the Korean War.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
The series Witsec follows a DOJ lawyer and a hardened mob hitman, both fed up with the corrupt institutions around them, who form a precarious alliance to convict criminal titans and save lives in the rogue origins of the Witness Protection Program.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
While dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, the origins of domestic dogs are more complex than once thought.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
After a quick relocation for the celebration, the curse got transferred to Barney, who missed the parade by taking a separate cab, though by the end of the night, the curse was passed on to its origins — their friend Steve.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
In the study, scientists identified 24 minerals that chart Jezero's changing environment, highlighting both the volcanic origins of rocks in the crater and a long history of their interaction with water.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The origins of Godzilla’s name may remain a mystery, but there are no secrets related to its film escapades.
—Michael Taube, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Its origins trace back to the 19th century, when the mondine sang it—female laborers in Northern Italy's rice paddies—protesting brutal working conditions and lost youth.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origins
Noun
-
However, the picture of severe armored attrition for Russia is consistent across multiple sources.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Questions remain about carbon-capture wells Arizona is the nation’s largest producer of copper, an essential component in the electrification of cars and household appliances, as well as renewable power sources.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Stowe, Vermont Residents of storybook-pretty Stowe are committed to maintaining the region’s rural roots, and visitors reap the benefits with a wealth of still-wild landscapes.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Beyond television, Chase has returned to his stage roots with roles in the Broadway revivals of Kiss Me, Kate (2019) and Once Upon a Mattress (2024).—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This evolution is driven by a combination of random mutations and natural selection, where the organisms that are most fit for survival, and most adaptable to the changes that occur in their conditions and environment, are the ones who aren’t selected against, and whose lineages continue.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Slavers didn’t keep records of family lineages and the enslaved couldn’t do so.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
However, looking deep into these swirling cradles of planet formation has always been tricky.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Now on sale for less than $20, these pumpkin cradles are a simple but genius gardening hack that lifts squashes off the ground to prevent moisture build-up that can cause rot.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This is a year of new beginnings, adventures and major changes in your life.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
-
However, their beginnings were messy.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The box covers the most popular classes and ancestries such as humans, elves, dwarves and halflings.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Behind Chalet Alpina are two development teams with impressive pedigrees.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Origins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origins. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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