ovulation

Scientific  

/ ō′vyə-lā′shən,ŏv′yə-lā′shən /

1. The release of an egg cell (ovum) from the ovary in female animals, regulated in mammals by hormones produced by the pituitary gland during the menstrual cycle.

---

ovulation Cultural  

1. The periodic release of an ovum from the ovaries (usually from only one ovary). After the ovum is released, it travels into the fallopian tube, and from there is moved to the uterus. Ovulation generally happens approximately two weeks into the menstrual cycle.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ovulation

Taylor Swift fans have paid $25 for pieces of trash -- including cigarette butts and an ovulation test kit -- collected near the US pop queen's wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

As someone who has used urine-based ovulation strips regularly, I think the latter sounds particularly promising.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025

But if the hypothalamus isn't happy, this process breaks down and ovulation doesn't happen.

From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2024

As the Washington Post noted, "Emergency contraceptive pills such as Plan B and Ella work by inhibiting or delaying ovulation, thereby preventing sperm from fertilizing the egg."

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2024

Twenty-four hours after the deed, my mother’s body temperature rose another two tenths, confirming ovulation.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides