immigrate

[im-i-greyt]

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.

verb (used with object)

immigrated, immigrating 

1. to introduce as settlers.

   to immigrate cheap labor.

immigrate

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• immigrator noun
• unimmigrating adjective
• immigratory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of immigrate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of immigrate¹

C17: from Latin immigrāre to go into, from _im- + migrāre to move

Synonym Study

See migrate.

Example Sentences

Citizens of another seven countries were blocked from permanently immigrating to the U.S., or for applying for tourist or student visas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then on Thursday, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said it would re-examine green cards issued to individuals who immigrated to the US from 19 countries.

Read more on BBC

In 1941, they were released and headed to Cuba, where they lived for two years before immigrating to New York.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The immigrant experience holds special meaning to Rams defensive end Kobie Turner — his grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica and his wife’s parents immigrated from Peru.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Her parents ran a flower shop after immigrating from South Korea.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrive 
• migrate