1
as in emerging
to come into being
A new counterculture germinating in the city's art district.
Related Words
Relevance
2
as in propagating
to cause (something, as a seed) to grow
She began by reading up on the best ways to germinate apple seeds.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of germinating
Crabgrass first appears in the spring, but new plants keep germinating throughout the summer, says Waltz.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Quinoa thrives in cool temperatures, germinating when soil temperatures are between 36°F and 68°F.
—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
Just avoid overlap with pre-emergent herbicides, which prevent all seeds (including grass) from germinating.
—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
27 Apr. 2026
These structures are envelopes of starch that shift and settle at the bottom of plant cells, helping the organisms to detect changes in their position and stability—and to tell germinating seeds in which direction to grow their roots.
—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
Keep in mind, though, that the timing must be right; some seeds require cold stratification before germinating.
—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
10 Apr. 2026
This is important to keep weed seeds from germinating.
—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Don’t trample or pick the flowers and stay on the paths because even barren ground could have seeds germinating beneath.
—
Jessie Schiewe,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Quinoa thrives in cool temperatures, germinating when soil temperatures are between 36°F and 68°F.
—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
Just avoid overlap with pre-emergent herbicides, which prevent all seeds (including grass) from germinating.
—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
27 Apr. 2026
These structures are envelopes of starch that shift and settle at the bottom of plant cells, helping the organisms to detect changes in their position and stability—and to tell germinating seeds in which direction to grow their roots.
—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
Keep in mind, though, that the timing must be right; some seeds require cold stratification before germinating.
—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
10 Apr. 2026
This is important to keep weed seeds from germinating.
—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Don’t trample or pick the flowers and stay on the paths because even barren ground could have seeds germinating beneath.
—
Jessie Schiewe,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for germinating
Verb
-
For budget-conscious attendees, new opportunities are emerging.
-
Moffett doesn’t see any obvious M&A deals emerging from the separation of Comcast and NBCU.
Verb
-
In addition to environmental education and advocacy, the center’s mission includes propagating rare and endangered native plants and rehabilitating birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians.
-
Ahead, experts share their go-to methods for propagating a lemon tree the right way.
Verb
-
Continuous learning and reinvention are essential to remain relevant and valuable in this evolving landscape, ultimately making individuals more strategic and creative.
-
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, that changing tally offers a unique lens on humanity's evolving understanding of the cosmos since 1776.
Verb
-
Are manufacturers producing vehicles that need regular software patches?
-
Cape Verde’s Vozinha offered a compelling example, producing an outstanding display against Spain while executing his team’s game plan with composure to help secure a historic progression to the knockout stage.
Verb
-
The group, already one of the largest White supremacist organizations in the country, is quickly growing its membership, at a time when hate crimes are on the rise.
-
And each time another first-time climber reaches the top, the applause rising from the rocks below suggests that, little by little, that community is growing.
Verb
-
As a bonus, those seasons are ideal for planting a replacement shrub or re-establishing a lawn if it is damaged during the shrub removal.
-
Daugherty recommends planting various evergreens to provide food and shelter for birds over the winter.
Verb
-
Unlike Napa's warmer northern appellations, Frank Family's Chardonnay program is anchored in the cool-climate Carneros AVA, where fog from San Pablo Bay slows ripening and helps grapes retain bright natural acidity.
-
Keep potatoes away from direct sunlight, and don't store them near onions or fruits like bananas, which release Ethylene gas that increases ripening.
Cite this Entry
“Germinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/germinating. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
