generate

[jen-uh-reyt]

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.

verb (used without object)

generated, generating 

1. to reproduce; propagate.

generate

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of generate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of generate¹

C16: from Latin generāre to beget, from genus kind

Example Sentences

The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool to 'predict this week's Premier League scores'.

Read more on BBC

GBS machines rely on photons, the basic particles of light, to generate probability calculations that would require thousands of years for even the fastest classical supercomputer to complete.

Read more on Science Daily

Babies generate an enormous number of synapses, the points where neurons communicate.

Read more on Science Daily

Many on the Street have questioned Strategy’s ability to service its preferred dividends and debt interest costs, seeing as its Bitcoin holdings generate no income and its legacy software business yields little free cash.

Read more on Barron's

It generated $136 billion in revenue last year, one of its best years ever.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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