penetrate
verb (used with object)
to pierce or pass into or through.
penetrated
-
past participleof penetrate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof penetrate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
penetrateverb (used with object)to pierce or pass into or through.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Several centuries-old trees have been lost, as the fire penetrated their root systems, Forestry England said.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Her eyes penetrated mine as I waited for a loud Tibetan gong to sound.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
In one fell swoop, The Beatles penetrated two more demographics.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
As law, policy and regulation have penetrated deeper into every facet of life, the First Amendment right “to petition the government for the redress of grievances” has become of utmost importance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
While Neanderthals lived in glacial times and were adapted to the cold, they penetrated no farther north than northern Germany and Kiev.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
