germinate

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   To start to grow, especially when a seed begins to sprout.

   Grammar: No object; the seed itself germinates. Often used with 'when' or 'after': germinate after a few days.

   Patterns

   • seeds germinate
   • germinate in something
   • germinate after a period

   The beans will germinate in about a week if you keep the soil moist.

   These seeds need light to germinate.

   After the rain, the wildflower seeds germinated quickly.

2. 2verbintransitivefigurative

   To begin to develop or take shape, as an idea or plan.

   Grammar: No object; often used figuratively with ideas: an idea germinates in someone's mind.

   Patterns

   • an idea germinates
   • germinate in someone's mind

   The plan germinated slowly over several months.

   A new idea germinated in her mind during the long train ride.

Word forms

Common combinations

germinate seeds

You can germinate seeds indoors before planting them outside.

germinate quickly

Radish seeds germinate quickly in warm weather.

germinate in the soil

The seeds germinate in the soil within ten days.

an idea germinates

An idea germinated while she was walking in the park.

Synonyms and how they differ

sprout

Focuses on the first visible shoot appearing above the soil; germinate can refer to the whole early growth process.

bud

Used for plants producing buds, not for seeds starting to grow.

develop

A general word for growing or advancing; germinate is more specific to seeds or early ideas.

Word family

germination noun

The process by which a seed starts to grow.

Commonly confused: germinate or germane? germinate or terminate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “germinate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words