penetrate
verb (used with object)
to pierce or pass into or through.
penetrated
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past participleof penetrate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof penetrate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
penetrateverb (used with object)to pierce or pass into or through.
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.
Several centuries-old trees have been lost, as the fire penetrated their root systems, Forestry England said.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Her eyes penetrated mine as I waited for a loud Tibetan gong to sound.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
In one fell swoop, The Beatles penetrated two more demographics.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
The contrast suggests that solar wind particles penetrated much farther into the far side regolith.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
“This time, miraculously, I understood. I decoded their speech. I penetrated the words and understood what was happening inside.”
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
