permeate

[pur-mee-eyt]

verb (used with object)

permeated, permeating 

1. to pass into or through every part of.

   Bright sunshine permeated the room.

2. to penetrate through the pores, interstices, etc., of.

3. to be diffused through; pervade; saturate.

   Cynicism permeated his report.

verb (used without object)

permeated, permeating 

1. to become diffused; penetrate.

permeate

/ ˈpɜːmɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to penetrate or pervade (a substance, area, etc)

   a lovely smell permeated the room

2. to pass through or cause to pass through by osmosis or diffusion

   to permeate a membrane

Other Word Forms

• permeation noun
• permeative adjective
• permeator noun
• interpermeate verb (used with object)
• nonpermeation noun
• nonpermeative adjective
• unpermeating adjective
• unpermeative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of permeate¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin permeātus, past participle of permeāre “to pass through”; per-, meatus

Word History and Origins

Origin of permeate¹

C17: from Latin permeāre, from per- through + meāre to pass

Example Sentences

Class was becoming a theme that permeated both her fiction and non-fiction.

From BBC

The fears that permeate “Good Boy,” however, increasingly rely on Indy moving about alone – such as peeking around a corner or following the specter of a dog long gone from this world.

From Salon

A new deputy manager also set her mind to the task of tackling the smell of urine that permeated the first floor.

From BBC

As some heated rocks in the fire and others cracked and used stones to grind acorns into flour, the smell of burning oak logs permeated the air.

From Los Angeles Times

At the heart of this slight are the racism and classism that still permeate Latin media industries.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• imbue 
• impregnate 
• infiltrate 
• infuse 
• invade 
• pass through 
• penetrate 
• percolate 
• pervade 
• saturate 
• seep 
• steep 
• suffuse 

When To Use

What does permeate mean?

Permeate means to penetrate, pass through, and often become widespread throughout something. Similar words are pervade and saturate.Permeate can be used both in the context of the physical spread of something within a space and in more figurative ways. Dye permeates fabric. A smell can permeate a room. An idea can permeate someone’s mind.The adjective permeable means capable of being permeated, especially by liquids or gases, as in Permeable surfaces should be sealed to prevent leaks. The adjective permeating describes things that have permeated or have the ability to permeate, as in Social media has become a permeating aspect of our lives.Example: This material has a special coating that won’t allow anything to permeate its surface.