1
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in root
the source from which something grows or develops
the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ancestry
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
they could trace their origins back 15 generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of origin
And the census is still trying to figure out how to ask questions to sort out race, ethnicity and origins.
—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
In The History of Every Thing, Popular Science uncovers the hidden stories and surprising origins behind everyday things.
—
Mack Degeurin,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
There is little visibility into the origins and destinations of donations in general, Aguilar Rosenthal says.
—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Italian yarn production can trace its origins and craftsmanship back to the Middle Ages.
—
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for origin
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
In The History of Every Thing, Popular Science uncovers the hidden stories and surprising origins behind everyday things.
—
Mack Degeurin,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
There is little visibility into the origins and destinations of donations in general, Aguilar Rosenthal says.
—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Italian yarn production can trace its origins and craftsmanship back to the Middle Ages.
—
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for origin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origin
Noun
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The source claimed that the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star checked into the facility voluntarily.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are expected to take over Madison Square Garden for two events celebrating their wedding, ABC News and CNN reported on June 30, citing sources familiar with the plans.
Noun
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The roots of the fall-out stretch back to 2019, before filming for the franchise’s fourth feature instalment began, when Margera signed a wellness agreement with the producers which committed him to sobriety amid his struggles with alcoholism.
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Simply apply 1 to 2 inches of natural mulch, like bark mulch, over the roots of your plants to lock in soil moisture and keep the mulch line at least 1 inch away from the plant's stems.
Noun
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However, elites’ DNA contained genetic similarities known as runs of homozygosity — adjacent genetic markers indicating common ancestry — and their genomes tended to be more homogenous than those of non-elites.
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Maybe that ancestry made Beck the wrong guy to pitch on America’s big day.
Noun
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The club retired the cradle of Louis XIV from its badge—a symbol of Saint-Germain as a suburban town 20 kilometers outside Paris, where the kings once lived.
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However, the country’s history draws parallels with Atlanta’s own identity as a cradle of civil rights activism.
Noun
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Prior to the trial beginning, the judge agreed that questions about Brown’s felony conviction for his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna would be barred from testimony.
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June was a frenetic month for the metro Atlanta restaurant scene, driven in part by a flurry of downtown openings timed to the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Noun
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Green said that through William's mother, the late Princess Diana, his lineage traces back to Benajah Strong.
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The research team, led by Ellie Bourgikos and Nathan Grubaugh at the Yale School of Public Health, estimates that one of the virus’s two major lineages arrived in the Northeast by the early 1700s.
Noun
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The genesis for this project started in 2020 with a little thing called Covid-19.
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So that was a little bit of the genesis of the book.
Noun
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While Bosnia, 61st in the FIFA rankings, lacks the pedigree of many of those past European opponents, the Americans know this matchup won't be easy.
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The festival boasts a mix of Hollywood glamor and European cinema pedigree that’s impossible to replicate anywhere else.
Cite this Entry
“Origin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origin. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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