reproduce
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to make a copy, representation, duplicate, or close imitation of.
to reproduce a picture.
-
to produce again or anew by natural process.
to reproduce a severed branch.
-
Biology. to produce one or more other individuals of (a given kind of organism) by some process of generation or propagation, sexual or asexual.
-
to cause or foster the reproduction of (organisms).
-
to produce, form, make, or bring about again or anew in any manner.
- Synonyms:
- repeat
-
to recall to the mind or have a mental image of (a past incident, scene, etc.), as by the aid of memory or imagination.
-
to produce again, as a play produced at an earlier time.
verb (used without object)
-
to reproduce its kind, as an organism; propagate; bear offspring.
-
to turn out in a given manner when copied.
This picture will reproduce well.
verb
-
to make a copy, representation, or imitation of; duplicate
-
(also intr) biology to undergo or cause to undergo a process of reproduction
-
to produce or exhibit again
-
to bring back into existence again; re-create
-
to bring before the mind again (a scene, event, etc) through memory or imagination
-
(intr) to come out (well, badly, etc), when copied
-
to replace (damaged parts or organs) by a process of natural growth; regenerate
-
to cause (a sound or television recording) to be heard or seen
Synonym Usage
See imitate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
reproducernoun
-
reproducibilitynoun
-
reproducibleadjective
-
self-reproducingadjective
-
reproduciblyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
reproducesimple
-
reproducessimple
-
have reproducedperfect
-
has reproducedperfect
-
am reproducingprogressive
-
are reproducingprogressive
-
is reproducingprogressive
-
have been reproducingperfect progressive
-
has been reproducingperfect progressive
Past
-
reproducedsimple
-
had reproducedperfect
-
was reproducingprogressive
-
were reproducingprogressive
-
had been reproducingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of reproduce
Explanation
To reproduce is to make more, either by having babies or creating copies. Parents and copy machines both reproduce. To produce is "to make something," and re means “again,” so reproduce literally means to “produce again.” When animals and plants make more of their own kind, they reproduce. Plants reproduce asexually, and people reproduce through childbirth. You can also reproduce a book by printing more copies or a computer file by copying it. Reproducing always creates more of something.
Vocabulary lists containing reproduce
Inside Out & Back Again
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 16
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Articles on Overfishing
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Any human population needs exchanges with the outside world in order to reproduce itself over time.
From Science Daily • Jul. 7, 2026
When nutrient levels are high, feasting algae can quickly reproduce.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026
To reproduce naturally, male and female trees need to be close to each other, with the fertilised seeds taking root in damp ground such as wetlands.
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026
Still, cloned horses can reproduce normally, so bloodlines that would have been lost can be reintroduced and improved upon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
If the last copy were gone, we could reproduce it almost word for word.
From "1984" by George Orwell
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.
