penetrate
verb (used with object)
to pierce or pass into or through.
penetrated
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past participleof penetrate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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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.
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
The contrast suggests that solar wind particles penetrated much farther into the far side regolith.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
During this time, certain “Western” ideas penetrated Russia’s religious consciousness; “holy war” was possibly one of these.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Cervical carcinomas are divided into two types: invasive carcinomas, which have penetrated the surface of the cervix, and noninvasive carcinomas, which haven’t.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
