permeate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to penetrate or pervade (a substance, area, etc)
a lovely smell permeated the room
-
to pass through or cause to pass through by osmosis or diffusion
to permeate a membrane
Usage
What does permeate mean? Permeate means to penetrate, pass through, and often become widespread throughout something. Similar words are pervade and saturate. Permeate can be used both in the context of the physical spread of something within a space and in more figurative ways. Dye permeates fabric. A smell can permeate a room. An idea can permeate someone’s mind. The adjective permeable means capable of being permeated, especially by liquids or gases, as in Permeable surfaces should be sealed to prevent leaks. The adjective permeating describes things that have permeated or have the ability to permeate, as in Social media has become a permeating aspect of our lives. Example: This material has a special coating that won’t allow anything to permeate its surface.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
permeationnoun
-
permeativeadjective
-
unpermeativeadjective
-
nonpermeationnoun
-
permeatornoun
-
unpermeatingadjective
-
interpermeateverb (used with object)
-
nonpermeativeadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has permeatedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have permeatedperfect
-
am permeatingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is permeatingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
permeatessingular 3rd person
-
has been permeatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
permeatingparticiple
-
are permeatingprogressive
-
have been permeatingperfect progressive
Past
-
had permeatedperfect
-
were permeatingprogressive plural
-
permeatedsimple
-
permeatedparticiple
-
was permeatingprogressive singular
-
had been permeatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of permeate
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin permeātus, past participle of permeāre “to pass through”; see origin at per-, meatus
Explanation
When you live in a big city like New York, you know all too well how the smells of spices and cooking meats can permeate a hallway, easily passing through those thin apartment doors to make your mouth water. The verb permeate literally means to "pass through." It's often used to describe smells or liquids that not only pass through, but also spread to fill an entire area. When you bake cookies, you'll notice that the rich, sweet smell of those cookies isn't confined just to your oven — it permeates the entire kitchen and even the whole house. In science class, you might have learned about a permeable membrane — a thin material that is porous enough to let liquids or gases to pass through.
Vocabulary lists containing permeate
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Raisin in the Sun
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Giver
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"And in other ways, sometimes something can permeate that you really didn't expect."
From BBC • May 22, 2026
Our Journal correspondent Yoko Kubota, who recently left the country after eight years, reflects on how a distrust of foreigners has come to permeate everyday life in China.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Throughout their journey, all four astronauts emphasized how unified Earth looks from afar -- a takeaway they hoped would permeate public consciousness.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
These fields permeate every cubic centimeter of space and time.
From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026
Some of the defects and malformations in tomorrow’s children, grimly anticipated by the Office of Vital Statistics, will almost certainly be caused by these chemicals that permeate our outer and inner worlds.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
