generate

American  

[jen-uh-reyt] / ˈdʒɛn əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

generated, generating

1. to bring into existence; cause to be; produce.

   Synonyms:

   institute, engender, originate, evolve, create

2. to create by a vital or natural process.

3. to create and distribute vitally and profusely.

   He generates ideas that we all should consider.

   A good diplomat generates good will.

4. to reproduce; procreate.

5. to produce by a chemical process.

6. Mathematics.

   1. to trace (a figure) by the motion of a point, straight line, or curve.

   2. to act as base for all the elements of a given set.

      The number 2 generates the set 2, 4, 8, 16.

7. Linguistics. to produce or specify (a grammatical sentence or other construction or set of constructions) by the application of a rule or set of rules in a generative grammar.

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verb (used without object)

generated, generating

1. to reproduce; propagate.

generate British  

/ ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to produce or bring into being; create

2. (also intr) to produce (electricity), esp in a power station

3. to produce (a substance) by a chemical process

4. maths linguistics to provide a precise criterion or specification for membership in (a set)

   these rules will generate all the noun phrases in English

5. geometry to trace or form by moving a point, line, or plane in a specific way

   circular motion of a line generates a cylinder

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Other Word Forms

• intergenerating adjective
• nongenerating adjective
• pregenerate verb (used with object)
• ungenerated adjective
• ungenerating adjective

Etymology

Origin of generate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin generātus “begotten, produced,” past participle of generāre “to beget”; genus

Example Sentences

But at corporations’ mid-level ranks, he said, more companies were finding ways to use AI to help gather data, generate initial thoughts on it, analyze reports, and follow accounting protocols.

From MarketWatch

"It's a technology we've been working on for about eight years, and we plan to be generating our own electricity by early 2027," he said.

From BBC

The S&P 500 has gained 17% over the past 12 months, generating an additional $8.4 trillion of stock market wealth.

From The Wall Street Journal

The two-mile corridor is one of Chicago's key economic hubs, generating some of the city's highest tax revenues outside the downtown Magnificent Mile.

From BBC

"Normally we have players who finish very well, maybe in a game you miss your chances, but the important thing is that we're generating them."

From Barron's

Related Words

• achieve
• bring about
• cause
• develop
• engender
• make
• provoke
• set up
• spawn