gestate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to carry in the womb during the period from conception to delivery.
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to think of and develop (an idea, opinion, plan, etc.) slowly in the mind.
verb (used without object)
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to experience the process of gestating offspring.
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to develop slowly.
verb
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(tr) to carry (developing young) in the uterus during pregnancy
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(tr) to develop (a plan or idea) in the mind
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(intr) to be in the process of gestating
Etymology
Origin of gestate
First recorded in 1865–70; from Latin gestātus, past participle of gestāre “to carry about, carry in the womb,” frequentative of gerere “to bear, perform”
Explanation
It's unclear just how long it took for the idea for the website to gestate. Did he think of it right away, or did it take months for him to come up with the idea? When something is gestating, it's literally in the womb, developing into whatever it will be when it's finally born. Other things besides living organisms can gestate, however. Frequently, gestate is used to refer to ideas and plans while they're in the development phase. The idea for a new way to market music to a generation of kids who expect it to be free was gestating for years before iTunes was launched. A gestation period is the time it takes for something to be born. Humans, for example, gestate for nine months.
Vocabulary lists containing gestate
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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Chronicle of a Death Foretold
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If “The Moment” had more time to gestate, it would likely be a much sharper and shocking satire.
From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026
As female cicadas lay eggs that gestate for the next 13 or 17 years, it can cause short-term damage to some trees and shrubs.
From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2024
SZA also decided that, to fully gestate “SOS,” she needed to shed her dependencies.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2023
They will then try to create an embryo carrying that modified DNA that could gestate in an African elephant “surrogate” or an artificial uterus.
From Scientific American • Aug. 16, 2022
Is he not justified in the conclusion that the nerves do gestate and send forth all substances that are applied by nature in the construction of man?
From Philosophy of Osteopathy by Still, A. T. (Andrew Taylor)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
