cultivate

American  

[kuhl-tuh-veyt] / ˈkʌl təˌveɪt /

verb (used with object)

cultivated, cultivating

1. to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; till.

2. to use a cultivator on.

3. to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and attention.

4. to produce by culture.

   to cultivate a strain of bacteria.

5. to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine.

   to cultivate a singing voice.

6. to promote the growth or development of (an art, science, etc.); foster.

7. to devote oneself to (an art, science, etc.).

8. to seek to promote or foster (friendship, love, etc.).

9. to seek the acquaintance or friendship of (a person).

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cultivate British  

/ ˈkʌltɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. to till and prepare (land or soil) for the growth of crops

2. to plant, tend, harvest, or improve (plants) by labour and skill

3. to break up (land or soil) with a cultivator or hoe

4. to improve or foster (the mind, body, etc) as by study, education, or labour

5. to give special attention to

   to cultivate a friendship

   to cultivate a hobby

6. to give or bring culture to (a person, society, etc); civilize

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Usage

What does cultivate mean? When used literally, cultivate means to take steps to grow something or improve its growth, especially crops. When used figuratively, it means much the same thing, except that the thing being grown or improved is often an abstract thing, such as a business or a friendship. The literal sense of cultivate is most often used in the context of agriculture, but it can also refer to things being grown in a laboratory. Its figurative sense can apply to many different things, such as relationships, skills, and even cultures. Example: Farmers have cultivated a variety of crops in this region.

Other Word Forms

• overcultivate verb (used with object)
• precultivate verb (used with object)
• recultivate verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of cultivate

First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin cultīvātus, past participle of cultīvāre “to till,” equivalent to cultīv(us) “tilled,” derivative of Latin colere “to inhabit, till” + -īvus -ive + -āre, infinitive suffix; cult

Explanation

To cultivate is to nurture and help grow. Farmers cultivate crops, fundraising professionals cultivate donors, and celebrities cultivate their images. When you cultivate something, you work to make it better. Originally, the word referred only to crops that required tilling, but the meaning has widened. No matter what is being cultivated, the word implies a level of care that is reminiscent of gardening. Sometimes friendships come naturally and sometimes you have to cultivate them. To cultivate anything requires an attention to detail, an understanding of what is being cultivated, and a lot of patience.

Example Sentences

“It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right,” he wrote External link in Resistance to Civil Government, the essay known as Civil Disobedience.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Army chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have worked in coordination to cultivate the U.S. president and his inner circle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Despite having started her political career as a pro-independence advocate, Cheng has in recent years tried to cultivate a reputation as a peace builder.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Others say social media’s algorithmic ability to capture, cultivate and control attention makes it fundamentally different from teen-friendly romantasy novels, Marvel movies or first-person shooter games.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Aspiring wordsmiths would do well to cultivate this awareness.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• breed
• fertilize
• harvest
• manage
• plant
• prepare
• propagate
• raise
• tend