proliferate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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to grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation.
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to increase in number or spread rapidly and often excessively.
verb
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to grow or reproduce (new parts, cells, etc) rapidly
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to grow or increase or cause to grow or increase rapidly
Other Word Forms
- proliferative adjective
Etymology
Origin of proliferate
First recorded in 1870–75; prolifer(ous) + -ate 1
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.
This is the paradox of dancing in the age of short-form video: Even as slick choreographed routines proliferate on TikTok and Instagram and YouTube, spawning mimics and viral trends, more concertgoers are standing still.
I expect large productivity gains for customer service, sales and marketing, and R&D to proliferate as AI makes possible rapid testing and experimentation with new ideas.
From Barron's
Zero or near-zero premium plans proliferated as the subsidies approached or exceeded the premiums.
As wellness influencers proliferate and high sleep scores are considered status symbols, 2025 is the year of the health gift.
Newspapers with names such as the Sun, the Mercury and the Globe proliferated.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
