gestate

American  

[jes-teyt] / ˈdʒɛs teɪt /

verb (used with object)

gestated, gestating

1. to carry in the womb during the period from conception to delivery.

2. to think of and develop (an idea, opinion, plan, etc.) slowly in the mind.

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verb (used without object)

gestated, gestating

1. to experience the process of gestating offspring.

2. to develop slowly.

gestate British  

/ ˈdʒɛsteɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to carry (developing young) in the uterus during pregnancy

2. (tr) to develop (a plan or idea) in the mind

3. (intr) to be in the process of gestating

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Etymology

Origin of gestate

First recorded in 1865–70; from Latin gestātus, past participle of gestāre “to carry about, carry in the womb,” frequentative of gerere “to bear, perform”

Example Sentences

If “The Moment” had more time to gestate, it would likely be a much sharper and shocking satire.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

Sheep typically gestate for about 5 months; the lambs that the researchers used were the equivalent of a human fetus at 23 weeks of gestation.

From Scientific American • Sep. 18, 2023

Mothers not only gestate us and grant us introduction to life, but they can keep giving it to us throughout their years.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2023

Like their sea horse cousins, male sea dragons gestate a female’s fertilized eggs in a pouch.

From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2022

Woman is not only the creative agency for building bodies, but the perfecting agency to build character, and to gestate and bring to birth the higher nature in humanity.

From The Arena Volume 4, No. 24, November, 1891 by Flower, B. O. (Benjamin Orange)