immigrate

[ im-i-greyt ]

verb (used without object)

, im·mi·grat·ed, im·mi·grat·ing.

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)

, im·mi·grat·ed, im·mi·grat·ing.

1. to introduce as settlers:

   to immigrate cheap labor.

immigrate

/ ˈɪmɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

1. See emigrate
   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

Derived Forms

• ˈimmiˌgrator, noun
• ˈimmiˌgratory, adjective

Other Words From

• immi·grator noun
• un·immi·grating 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

Born in a Ghanaian refugee camp to Liberian parents who were fleeing a civil war, Davies immigrated to Canada with his family when he was 5.

From FiveThirtyEight

“I feel powerless not being able to pay them,” Solis, who immigrated from Mexico as a teenager, said in Spanish.

From ProPublica

The Soviet Union had denied their request to immigrate to Israel, given how Israel’s Western allies and its victory in the Six-Day War in 1967 had led to frosty diplomatic relations between it and the Soviet Union.

From Ozy

The first project we remember working on together was drawing scenes from the picture books that our mom brought with her when she immigrated from the USSR.

From MIT Technology Review

Yang’s parents had both immigrated from Taiwan, and met in grad school.

From Freakonomics

The irony in it, today, is that it encourages Jews from countries like France to immigrate into Israel, thus making it stronger.

From The Daily Beast

It was easier for my family to leave the Soviet Union and immigrate to Canada!

From The Daily Beast

Scores of Chinese in Guangdong province began to immigrate to California through the Port of San Francisco.

From The Daily Beast

Two individuals didn't immigrate to the United States from the Chechen Republican in Russia.

From The Daily Beast

Many others have endured huge obstacles and lengthy waits to immigrate legally.

From The Daily Beast

If island formed continent, some species would emerge and immigrate.

From Project Gutenberg

The wretched survivors, who are there set at liberty, are immediately seduced to "immigrate" to the West Indies.

From Project Gutenberg

Sure I'm at the jumpin'-off place now, and to immigrate furder would be to put meself in the hands of the murtherin' redskins.

From Project Gutenberg

The real Portuguese immigrate in families and show very little money on landing.

From Project Gutenberg

The desire to immigrate, stimulated by the transportation companies, spread like a fever.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arrive
• migrate