immigrate

American  

[im-i-greyt] / ˈɪm ɪˌgreɪt /

verb (used without object)

immigrated, immigrating

1. to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence.

2. to pass or come into a new habitat or place, as an organism.

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verb (used with object)

immigrated, immigrating

1. to introduce as settlers.

   to immigrate cheap labor.

immigrate British  

/ ˈɪmɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to come to a place or country of which one is not a native in order to settle there Compare emigrate

2. (intr) (of an animal or plant) to migrate to a new geographical area

3. (tr) to introduce or bring in as an immigrant

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Related Words

See migrate.

Other Word Forms

• immigrator noun
• immigratory adjective
• unimmigrating adjective

Etymology

Origin of immigrate

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin immigrātus (past participle of immigrāre “to move into”); im- ¹, migrate

Example Sentences

He was especially close to his grandfather — a rabbi in Poland who built a successful career in waste management after immigrating to the U.S. — and to his Aunt Belle.

From Los Angeles Times

Bonta, a U.S. citizen, was born in Quezon City, Philippines, in 1972, when his parents were working there as missionaries, and immigrated with his family to California as an infant.

From Los Angeles Times

Large numbers of deportations are one factor, he said, but besides that, some will decide against immigrating to the U.S., while others already in the country will choose to leave.

From Los Angeles Times

The actress and singer was born to Nigerian parents who immigrated to the UK in their early 20s.

From BBC

He spent time in the Middle East when his father was ambassador to Syria and Lebanon before immigrating to the San Francisco Bay Area with his family as a teenager.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• arrive
• migrate