Do you know the definition of procreate? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word procreate, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary and Dictionary, the word procreate (pronounced ˈproʊkriˌeɪt) is a verb that means to beget or generate offspring. This term can be used as either a transitive or an intransitive verb, meaning that it can be used with or without an object. Therefore, one could either say, “the squirrels are going to procreate because it is springtime,” or, “the squirrels are going to procreate offspring because it is springtime.” Try using this word of the day or other new words in a sentence today!
There are many different languages that also contain words that mean procreate. You may notice that some of these words look and sound a lot like the word procreate. These are called cognates, which are words that look, sound, and mean similar things across different languages. These are usually formed when two words or languages have a common origin or ancestral language such as Latin or Greek. This list of translations for the word procreate is provided by Word Sense.
According to Etymonline, the word procreate has been used as a verb since the 1530s to mean to beget or reproduce. This word is a back-formation from the noun procreation. This word comes from the Latin prōcreātus which is the past participle of the Latin prōcreāre meaning to bring forth, or beget. This comes from the prefix pro meaning for and the root creare meaning to create. This comes from the Proto-Indo-European root ker meaning to grow. Related words include procreator (noun), procreation (noun), procreativeness (noun), procreative (adjective), procreated (past tense) and procreating (present progressive.)
How can the word procreate be used in a sentence?
The word procreate can be used in many different circumstances to refer to reproduction or creating offspring. In this example, Jana is teaching a class of seventh graders about human reproduction.
Jana: Alright class, today we are going to learn about how people procreate. Can anyone tell me what that is?
Student: Two people having a baby.
Jana: That’s correct. The word procreation can also refer to animals or even plants reproducing and creating more of their kind. Now, I know that this is a subject that can cause a lot of giggles for people your age, but let’s all try to be mature and look at this like we are scientists, okay?
Class: Okay.
Here, Jana uses the word procreate in reference to the birds and the bees talk that she is about to give her class.
What are synonyms for the word procreate?
There are many different words that a person can sue in place of the term procreate. These are called synonyms. You may wonder why it would be useful to know different words that mean the same thing, when one will do the trick. First, knowing synonyms is very helpful to avoid repeating yourself. This can add variety to your written works and your everyday speech. Second, knowing synonyms is an easy way to expand your vocabulary. This can improve your eloquence and knowledge of the English language. This list of synonyms for the word procreate is provided by Thesaurus.
bring about
afford
result in
bring forth
multiply
progenerate
beget
bring
mother
give birth to
parent
give rise to
aggregate
generate
reproduce
bear
raise
repeat
proliferate
double
cube
rise
breed
add
expand
create
get
conceive
engender
deliver
accumulate
heighten
impregnate
hatch
aggrandize
propagate
boost
sire
make
produce
father
populate
originate
build up
compound
magnify
effect
cause
spread
manifold
extend
enlarge
induce
spawn
square
occasion
mount
augment
There are also numerous different words that have the opposite meaning of the word procreate. These are called antonyms, which are also a useful grammatical device to know in order to expand your vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word [rocreate is also provided by Thesaurus.
let up
fulfill
achieve
slacken
wear down
perfect
droop
wind up
dwindle
effect
settle
close
bag it
do
fade
have done with
clinch
scrub
die down
lessen
check
lower
lighten
crumble
run low
determine
weaken
break up
shrink
put finishing touches on
peter out
hang it up
devaluate
quiet
decay
ease
waste
decline
evaporate
tail off
slump
round off
sink
wane
contract
make short work of
drop off
scratch
wither
degenerate
bring to a close
cease
calm down
get out of the way
lose edge
discharge
complete
decrease
abate
slow down
quell
fold
diminish
execute
sew up
slash
ebb
halt
restrain
curb
make
ultimate
reduce
drop
crown
deteriorate
conclude
stop
wrap
modify
accomplish
mop up
fall off
end
wrap up
slack off
curtail
deal with
round up
shrivel
dry up
top off
shutter
narrow down
finish
soften
finalize
terminate
subside
cut down
carry through
shut down
culminate
wear away
depreciate
Overall, the word procreate is a versatile word in American English. This is a verb that refers to individuals of a given animal reproducing or creating children. This verb can be used transitively or intransitively. This word is of Latin origin and stems from the past participle of prōcreāre.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.