Advertisement

View synonyms for permeate

permeate

[ pur-mee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, per·me·at·ed, per·me·at·ing.
  1. to pass into or through every part of:

    Bright sunshine permeated the room.

  2. to penetrate through the pores, interstices, etc., of.
  3. to be diffused through; pervade; saturate:

    Cynicism permeated his report.



verb (used without object)

, per·me·at·ed, per·me·at·ing.
  1. to become diffused; penetrate.

permeate

/ ˈpɜːmɪˌeɪt /

verb

  1. to penetrate or pervade (a substance, area, etc)

    a lovely smell permeated the room

  2. to pass through or cause to pass through by osmosis or diffusion

    to permeate a membrane

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈpermeative, adjective
  • ˌpermeˈation, noun
Discover More

Other Words From

  • per·me·a·tion [pur-mee-, ey, -sh, uh, n], noun
  • per·me·a·tive adjective
  • per·me·a·tor noun
  • in·ter·per·me·ate verb (used with object) interpermeated interpermeating
  • non·per·me·a·tion noun
  • non·per·me·a·tive adjective
  • un·per·me·at·ing adjective
  • un·per·me·a·tive adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of permeate1

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin permeātus, past participle of permeāre “to pass through”; per-, meatus
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of permeate1

C17: from Latin permeāre, from per- through + meāre to pass
Discover More

Example Sentences

As AOL evolved, this ethos of personalization began to permeate the entire user experience.

The colors, lines, and shapes that permeate the film are truly a sight to behold.

Double-think, censorship, and fear permeate daily life, often subconsciously.

But its presence speaks to the contradictions that permeate Muslim society.

The New York Times editorial page does not permeate across all of America.

But now quiet, save for an undescribable, whispering overtone that seemed to permeate the air.

In this world our spirits not only permeate matter but find their only expression through its medium.

Extravagance and exaggeration permeate his most commonplace observations.

The spirit of unrepentant cruelty has thus been allowed to permeate the whole administration.

Resolved gradually to permeate, it has not been revolutionary: it has relied on the slow growth of opinion.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


permeasepermeated