migrate

[mahy-greyt]

verb (used without object)

migrated, migrating 

1. to go from one country, region, or place to another.

   Synonyms: relocate, move
   Antonyms: stay, remain

2. to pass periodically from one region or climate to another, as certain birds, fishes, and animals.

   The birds migrate southward in the winter.

3. to shift, as from one system, mode of operation, or enterprise to another.

4. Physiology.,  (of a cell, tissue, etc.) to move from one region of the body to another, as in embryonic development.

5. Chemistry.

   1. (of ions) to move toward an electrode during electrolysis.

   2. (of atoms within a molecule) to change position.

6. (at British universities) to change or transfer from one college to another.

migrate

/ maɪˈɡreɪt /

verb

1. to go from one region, country, or place of abode to settle in another, esp in a foreign country

2. (of birds, fishes, etc) to journey between different areas at specific times of the year

Other Word Forms

• migrator noun
• intermigrate verb (used without object)
• nonmigrating adjective
• remigrate verb (used without object)
• unmigrating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of migrate¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin migrātus (past participle of migrāre “to move from place to place, change position or abode”), equivalent to migrā- verb stem + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of migrate¹

C17: from Latin migrāre to change one's abode

Synonym Study

Migrate, emigrate, immigrate are used of changing one's abode from one country or part of a country to another. To migrate is to make such a move either once or repeatedly: to migrate from Ireland to the United States. To emigrate is to leave a country, usually one's own (and take up residence in another): Each year many people emigrate from Europe. To immigrate is to enter and settle in a country not one's own: There are many inducements to immigrate to South America. Migrate is applied both to people or to animals that move from one region to another, especially periodically; the other terms are generally applied to movements of people.

Example Sentences

As Earth's metallic core formed, elements such as iron and molybdenum migrated inward and became concentrated there, leaving the mantle with much lower amounts.

Read more on Science Daily

For birds migrating thousands of miles each year, these forests serve as essential resting and wintering grounds.

Read more on Science Daily

Some workers are migrating to skilled trades, white-collar employees are under pressure to level up their AI skills and parents are trying to figure out how to guide their college-age kids.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A third said they migrated to the U.S. to further their education but got sidetracked as business opportunities arose, and 20% said they had hoped to achieve the American dream through work opportunities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Risks are migrating to electricity and renewable fuels faced with new vulnerabilities, such as intermittency and grid-integration challenges.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• drift 
• emigrate 
• immigrate 
• roam 
• shift 
• trek 
• wander