Synonyms

permeate

American

[pur-mee-ayt] / ˈpɜr miˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

to pass into or through every part of.

Bright sunshine permeated the room.
to penetrate through the pores, interstices, etc., of.
to be diffused through; pervade; saturate.

Cynicism permeated his report.

verb (used without object)

to become diffused; penetrate.

permeate British

/ ˈpɜːmɪˌeɪt /

verb

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

a lovely smell permeated the room
to pass through or cause to pass through by osmosis or diffusion

to permeate a membrane

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of permeate

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

Explanation

When you live in a big city like New York, you know all too well how the smells of spices and cooking meats can permeate a hallway, easily passing through those thin apartment doors to make your mouth water. The verb permeate literally means to "pass through." It's often used to describe smells or liquids that not only pass through, but also spread to fill an entire area. When you bake cookies, you'll notice that the rich, sweet smell of those cookies isn't confined just to your oven — it permeates the entire kitchen and even the whole house. In science class, you might have learned about a permeable membrane — a thin material that is porous enough to let liquids or gases to pass through.

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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.

See Examples For:

permeate permeates permeated permeating

But you can’t permeate the culture if viewers refuse to watch the second episode.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

I think this shift shows, first of all, how much culture really does permeate the Supreme Court.

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026

"And in other ways, sometimes something can permeate that you really didn't expect."

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

Throughout their journey, all four astronauts emphasized how unified Earth looks from afar -- a takeaway they hoped would permeate public consciousness.

From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026

The captain noticed for the first time that there were no windows; the light seemed to permeate the walls.

From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury

It was all the more jarring because elsewhere Nordqvist had unmistakably fostered that famed European spirit which so often permeates through Solheim and Ryder Cup successes.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

The crusade to prevent skin-cancer deaths, Mr. Jacobsen argues, has fostered an absolutism about the risks of sunlight that permeates the media.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

Once Egg is unmasked, we come to understand why he’s so drawn to this enormous man whose gentle spirit permeates Claffey’s faultless performance.

From Salon ● Feb. 23, 2026

Kupp’s influence permeates the entire team, and goes beyond leading by example, Darnold said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2026

The Hebrew term ein sof, which meant “infinite,” represented the creator aspect of God, the part of the deity that made the universe and that permeates every corner of the cosmos.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Fiona Donohoe added that "answers of 'I don't know' and 'I can't recall' permeated the evidence heard at the inquest".

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

"Social media has now permeated to the smallest towns in India, and has near ubiquity among young Indians," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

The Greenspan era saw incredible technological progress as the internet permeated ordinary life, much as artificial intelligence is doing now.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026

Eve’s prominent role in advertising demonstrates how the Judeo-Christian tradition permeated American culture, including the fashion industry.

From Salon ● May 17, 2026

The icy cell was permeated with a rotten odor.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Footage on social media shows large plumes of smoke permeating through the streets of the village as sirens ring out.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Apple’s reach is permeating into the rest of the AI supply chain.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

There is a reflexive conspiratorial vibe permeating the culture.

From Slate ● May 7, 2026

“You’ve got this somewhat dystopian narrative permeating the psychology of the market” with respect to AI and jobs, asset-management firm’s CIO says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026

The stench of human waste, urine, rotting wounds, and strong rubbing alcohol surrounds me, permeating my clothes, skin, and hair.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023