mutate

verb

mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt How to pronounce mutate (audio) myü-ˈtāt How to pronounce mutate (audio)
mutated; mutating
Synonyms of mutatenext

intransitive verb

: to undergo mutation

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo mutation
mutative
ˈmyü-ˌtā-tiv How to pronounce mutate (audio) -tə-tiv How to pronounce mutate (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of mutate

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Examples of mutate in a Sentence

a disease that mutates genes in humans a group of mutated genes Over time, her feelings mutated from hatred into love. opera singers mutating into pop stars
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Bobby remained on the trial for 29 weeks before his cancer mutated and began to evade the treatment. — Stat Staff, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 And all the modern flu pandemics have been bird flu viruses that mutated to spread in humans. — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026 Drama aside, this knowledgeable CPA knows how to navigate mutating tax rules and regulations. — Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 Nowadays, the concept has mutated into something more like a full RV kitchen without the RV (or outside the RV), sometimes packed into a box burly enough to survive an active war zone. — New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mutate

Word History

Etymology

Latin mutatus, past participle of mutare

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of mutate was in 1818

Rhymes for mutate

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Browse Nearby Words

mutase
mutate
mutation
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Cite this Entry

“Mutate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutate. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mutate

verb
mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt How to pronounce mutate (audio)
mutated; mutating
: to undergo or cause to undergo mutation

Medical Definition

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