permeate
verb
Did you know?
It's no surprise that permeate means "to pass through something"—it was borrowed into English in the 17th century from Latin permeatus, which comes from the prefix per- ("through") and the verb meare, meaning "to go" or "to pass." Meare itself comes from an ancient root that may have also led to Middle Welsh and Czech words meaning "to go" and "to pass," respectively. Other descendants of meare in English include permeative, permeable, meatus ("a natural body passage"), and the relatively rare irremeable ("offering no possibility of return").
Synonyms
Examples of permeate in a Sentence
Brendon Davis, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
Aside from the methane smell that permeates the area around the landfill and the dust that pollutes our air, the decaying trash is most certainly leaching into the Biscayne Aquifer, the source of our drinking water.
—Jacqueline Railey, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2025
Although the film speaks more on a dark, satirical level to Green’s experience as a GQ columnist and arbiter of taste, there’s still plenty to be said about the pervasively toxic stan culture and cult mentality that has permeated through the entertainment industry and political circles.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Feb. 2025
This is an issue that’s permeated the team throughout the campaign, not an outcome that was caused by the Miller trade and his absence.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for permeate 
Dictionary Entries Near permeate
Cite this Entry
“Permeate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permeate. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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permeate
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