immigrate

[ im-i-greyt ]

See synonyms for immigrate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),im·mi·grat·ed, im·mi·grat·ing.

to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence.
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.

to introduce as settlers: to immigrate cheap labor.

Origin of immigrate

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

synonym study For immigrate

1. See migrate.

Other words from immigrate

im·mi·gra·tor, noun
un·im·mi·grat·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with immigrate

emigrate, immigrate , migrate (see synonym study at migrate)

Words Nearby immigrate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use immigrate in a sentence

The irony in it, today, is that it encourages Jews from countries like France to immigrate into Israel, thus making it stronger.
Europe’s Jews Punished for Israel’s War | Eli Lake | July 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It was easier for my family to leave the Soviet Union and immigrate to Canada!
Immigration Laws Have It All Backward | Ilya Shapiro | May 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Scores of Chinese in Guangdong province began to immigrate to California through the Port of San Francisco.
‘The Search for General Tso’: The Origins of America’s Favorite Chinese Dish, General Tso’s Chicken | Marlow Stern | April 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Two individuals didn't immigrate to the United States from the Chechen Republican in Russia.
Why Boston Tells Us Little About Our Immigration System | Justin Green | April 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Many others have endured huge obstacles and lengthy waits to immigrate legally.
Can Jeb Bush Save the GOP and End Its Emerging Civil War? | John Avlon | March 5, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

If island formed continent, some species would emerge and immigrate.
The Foundations of the Origin of Species | Charles Darwin
The wretched survivors, who are there set at liberty, are immediately seduced to "immigrate" to the West Indies.
Cotton is King and The Pro-Slavery Arguments | Various
Sure I'm at the jumpin'-off place now, and to immigrate furder would be to put meself in the hands of the murtherin' redskins.
Money Magic | Hamlin Garland
The real Portuguese immigrate in families and show very little money on landing.
The Old World in the New | Edward Alsworth Ross
The desire to immigrate, stimulated by the transportation companies, spread like a fever.
Our Foreigners | Samuel P. Orth

British Dictionary definitions for immigrate

immigrate

/ (ˈɪmɪˌɡreɪt) /

verb

(intr) to come to a place or country of which one is not a native in order to settle there: Compare emigrate
(intr) (of an animal or plant) to migrate to a new geographical area

(tr) to introduce or bring in as an immigrant

Origin of immigrate

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

Derived forms of immigrate

immigratory, adjective
immigrator, noun

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

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