penetrate

[pen-i-treyt]

verb (used with object)

penetrated, penetrating 

1. to pierce or pass into or through.

   The bullet penetrated the wall. The fog lights penetrated the mist.

2. to enter the interior of.

   to penetrate a forest.

3. to enter and diffuse itself through; permeate.

4. to arrive at the truth or meaning of; understand; comprehend.

   to penetrate a mystery.

   Synonyms: discern, fathom

5. to obtain a share of (a market).

   to penetrate the Canadian coffee market.

6. to affect or impress (the mind or feelings) deeply.

   Synonyms: touch

7. to extend influence, usually peacefully, into the affairs of (another country).

verb (used without object)

penetrated, penetrating 

1. to enter, reach, or pass through something, as by piercing.

   We penetrated to the interior of the Kasbah.

2. to be diffused through something.

3. to understand or read the meaning of something.

4. to have a deep effect or impact on someone.

penetrate

/ ˈpɛnɪˌtreɪt /

verb

1. to find or force a way into or through (something); pierce; enter

2. to diffuse through (a substance); permeate

3. (tr) to see through

   their eyes could not penetrate the fog

4. (tr) (of a man) to insert the penis into the vagina of (a woman)

5. (tr) to grasp the meaning of (a principle, etc)

6. (intr) to be understood

   his face lit up as the new idea penetrated

Other Word Forms

• penetrator noun
• prepenetrate verb (used with object)
• unpenetrated adjective
• penetrably adverb
• penetrative adjective
• penetrable adjective
• penetrability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penetrate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin penetrātus “entered the interior of,” past participle of penetrāre “to enter the interior of,” from penet-, variant stem of penitus “deep down” + -āre, infinitive verb suffix, with the vowel change and addition of -r- probably by analogy with intus “inside,” intrāre “to enter” ( enter ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of penetrate¹

C16: from Latin penetrāre; related to penitus inner, and penus the interior of a house

Synonym Study

See pierce.

Example Sentences

However, "bad design and bad workmanship" on the Fishwick project meant that rainwater got trapped behind the insulation and penetrated walls in houses such as the Rashids', according to building surveyor David Walter.

Read more on BBC

The approach, known as a penetrating thermometer, integrates emissions across the QGP's entire lifetime to produce an average thermal profile.

Read more on Science Daily

At that point on the deserted station platform, Ms Whyte had been stabbed 23 times, 11 of which penetrated her skull, with one cutting through her brain stem.

Read more on BBC

It called the strike a “successful hit” that penetrated Russian air defenses.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Calling the strike "a successful hit" that penetrated the Russian air defence system, Ukraine's general staff of the armed forces said they were still assessing the outcome of the "massive combined missile and air strike".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• crack 
• drill 
• enter 
• go through 
• infiltrate 
• invade 
• pass through 
• permeate 
• pervade 
• puncture 
• seep