Meaning & use
permeates
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“permeates” is a form of “permeate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Spreads into every part of a place or thing and is noticeable throughout, as a smell, feeling or idea can.
Grammar: Takes an object: the smell permeates the house.
Patterns
- something permeates something
- something permeates through something
The smell of fresh bread permeates the whole building by morning.
A sense of excitement permeates the school on the last day of term.
Respect for tradition permeates every part of the village's life.
verbtransitive or intransitivetechnical
Passes through the tiny gaps in a material, as a liquid or gas does.
Grammar: Can take an object or be followed by through: water permeates the soil or permeates through the soil.
Patterns
- something permeates something
- something permeates through something
Rainwater slowly permeates the sandy soil.
Oxygen permeates the thin membrane and enters the blood.
Moisture permeates through the cracked wall during storms.
Word forms
| base form | permeate |
|---|---|
| past tense | permeated |
| past participle | permeated |
| -ing form | permeating |
Common combinations
- permeates the air
- The scent of pine permeates the air.
- permeates every aspect
- Technology permeates every aspect of modern life.
- permeates the soil
- Water permeates the soil after the rain.
- permeates the culture
- Football permeates the culture of the city.
- fear permeates
- Fear permeates the town after the news.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pervades
- Pervades is almost the same but is used more for feelings and qualities than for liquids passing through a material.
- fills
- Fills is plainer and says only that something takes up the space, without the idea of spreading slowly everywhere.
- seeps through
- Seeps through is informal and only for liquids, while permeates also works for smells and ideas.
- saturates
- Saturates means soaking something until it can hold no more, which is stronger than permeates.
Opposites
Word family
- permeate verb
- to spread through something
- permeation noun
- the act of spreading through
- permeable adjective
- letting liquids or gases pass through
- impermeable adjective
- not letting anything pass through
- permeability noun
- how easily something lets fluids pass
Commonly confused: permeates or permeates vs. permits?
permeates vs permeates vs. permits
Permeates means spreads throughout, while permits means allows.
Practice
The smell of garlic ___ the whole kitchen as soon as she began to cook.
Choose one answer.
Permeates means spreads through every part. Permits means allows, and prevents and persuades do not describe a smell spreading.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “permeates”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.