Meaning & use

permeate

verb·Advanced

To spread throughout something or pass through its substance.

See it in a sentence

The smell of fresh coffee permeated the entire house within minutes.

A quiet sense of unease permeated the office after the layoffs were announced.

A note on using this word

Permeate works for both physical substances, like liquids and odors, and abstract things, like moods or ideas.

Words with a similar meaning

pervadesaturateinfuse

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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