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

Explanation

Generate means produce or create. A good stock pick might generate cash, and a good idea might generate the basis for an Oscar-winning film. Generate and the closely related word generation both come from the Latin word genus, which means "stock or race." Its root, in turn, is the Proto-Indo-European gen-, "to produce, give birth, or beget." Let's say you have two siblings. In that case, your parents' marriage has generated three children. In a hydroelectric power plant, water generates power. And you can get a paper route or babysit if you're looking to generate a little income.

Example Sentences

Not only did they generate it, they also isolated it, sealed it in a tube, and observed it staying intact for months.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2026

The facilities can generate significant revenue for local governments due to sales and property taxes, but also require immense amounts of water and energy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

QNX is expected to generate between $60 million and $64 million, and Secure Communications about $66 million to $70 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Notably, Jassy also said Amazon’s in-house chip business is already on track to generate more than $20 billion in annual revenue.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

By the 1980s, he had developed a solid business that didn't generate a lot of extra money but afforded him a gratifying degree of independence.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

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