immigrate

[ im-i-greyt ]

verb (used without object)

, im·mi·grat·ed, im·mi·grat·ing.

1. to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence.
2. to pass or come into a new habitat or place, as an organism.

verb (used with object)

, im·mi·grat·ed, im·mi·grat·ing.

1. to introduce as settlers:

   to immigrate cheap labor.

immigrate

/ ˈɪmɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

1. intr to come to a place or country of which one is not a native in order to settle there Compare emigrate
2. intr (of an animal or plant) to migrate to a new geographical area
3. tr to introduce or bring in as an immigrant

Derived Forms

• ˈimmiˌgrator, noun
• ˈimmiˌgratory, adjective

Other Words From

• immi·grator noun
• un·immi·grating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of immigrate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin immigrātus (past participle of immigrāre “to move into”); im- ¹, migrate

Word History and Origins

Origin of immigrate¹

C17: from Latin immigrāre to go into, from im- + migrāre to move

Synonym Study

See migrate.

Example Sentences

From there, the Canadian government ranks applicants and invites the highest-ranking ones to apply to immigrate.

From Salon

Her family made America their home after immigrating from Jalisco, Mexico.

From BBC

Her parents immigrated to the United States from Jamaica and India.

From Salon

If people immigrate here, it can only be at the expense of those who live here.

From Salon

A severe recession in Mexico in the 1990s contributed to some 5 million Mexicans immigrating to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrive
• migrate