transpire

verb

tran·spire tran(t)-ˈspī(-ə)r

transpired; transpiring

Synonyms of transpire

intransitive verb

: to take place : go on, occur

: to become known or apparent : develop

: to be revealed : come to light

: to give off vaporous material

specifically : to give off or exude watery vapor especially from the surfaces of leaves

: to pass in the form of a vapor from a living body

transitive verb

: to pass off or give passage to (a fluid) through pores or interstices

especially : to excrete (a fluid, such as water) in the form of a vapor through a living membrane (such as the skin)

Can transpire mean 'to occur'?: Usage Guide

Sense 1 of transpire is the frequent whipping boy of those who suppose sense 2 to be the only meaning of the word. Sense 1 appears to have developed in the late 18th century; it was well enough known to have been used by Abigail Adams in a letter to her husband in 1775.

there is nothing new transpired since I wrote you last —Abigail Adams

Noah Webster recognized the new sense in his dictionary of 1828. Transpire was evidently a popular word with 19th century journalists; sense 1 turns up in such pretentiously worded statements as "The police drill will transpire under shelter to-day in consequence of the moist atmosphere prevailing." Around 1870 the sense began to be attacked as a misuse on the grounds of etymology, and modern critics echo the damnation of 1870. Sense 1 has been in existence for about two centuries; it is firmly established as standard; it occurs now primarily in serious prose, not the ostentatiously flamboyant prose typical of 19th century journalism.

Did you know?

If you’re someone who gets in a sweat over the now-common use of transpire meaning “to occur,” we hope this explainer helps you cool down and breathe easier—it just so happens that the word’s expansion from its technical origins transpired in a logical, or at least understandable, progression over the centuries. Transpire comes from the Latin verb spirare (“to breathe”), which also breathed life into perspire, aspire, and inspire, among other words. Wafting up into English in the late 16th century, transpire was originally used (as it still is) for the action of vapor passing out of the pores of a living membrane such as the skin. From this use followed the related senses of “to become known” and “to be revealed; to come to light” (think of information “leaking” or “slipping out”). Although some usage commentators maintain that these are the only proper figurative uses of transpire, none other than Abigail Adams used it to mean “to happen” in a 1775 letter to her husband (“there is nothing new transpired since I wrote you last”) and Noah Webster recognized the new sense in his dictionary of 1828. Today it is firmly established as standard, occurring widely in published prose.

Examples of transpire in a Sentence

No one will soon forget the historic events that transpired on that day. A plant transpires more freely on a hot dry day. Trees transpire water at a rapid rate.

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.

The March 8, 2025, SAT administration was supposed to be a routine test for students across the country, but what transpired was a digital disaster that left thousands of students frustrated and uncertain about their futures. —Scott White, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 While acknowledging the likelihood of price hikes, however, Powell said the Fed's response would depend on what exactly transpires. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025 Whether one supports Ukraine or not, what transpired was beyond standard diplomatic practice. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 This involved Abbasi separating from CAA, as well as his management at Entertainment 360 and his legal representation at Granderson Des Rochers, a decision Abbasi asserts had nothing to do with what transpired at the after-party. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transpire