generate
Americanverb (used with object)
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generates,
present (3rd person singular)
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generated,
past participle, past
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generating
present participle
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to bring into existence; cause to be; produce.
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to create by a vital or natural process.
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to create and distribute vitally and profusely.
He generates ideas that we all should consider.
A good diplomat generates good will.
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to reproduce; procreate.
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to produce by a chemical process.
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Mathematics.
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to trace (a figure) by the motion of a point, straight line, or curve.
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to act as base for all the elements of a given set.
The number 2 generates the set 2, 4, 8, 16.
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Linguistics. to produce or specify (a grammatical sentence or other construction or set of constructions) by the application of a rule or set of rules in a generative grammar.
verb (used without object)
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generates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
generated,
past participle, past
-
generating
present participle
verb
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to produce or bring into being; create
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(also intr) to produce (electricity), esp in a power station
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to produce (a substance) by a chemical process
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maths linguistics to provide a precise criterion or specification for membership in (a set)
these rules will generate all the noun phrases in English
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geometry to trace or form by moving a point, line, or plane in a specific way
circular motion of a line generates a cylinder
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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pregenerateverb (used with object)
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intergeneratingadjective
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nongeneratingadjective
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ungeneratedadjective
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ungeneratingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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generatesimple
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generatessimple
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have generatedperfect
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has generatedperfect
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am generatingprogressive
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are generatingprogressive
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is generatingprogressive
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have been generatingperfect progressive
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has been generatingperfect progressive
Past
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generatedsimple
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had generatedperfect
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was generatingprogressive
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were generatingprogressive
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had been generatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of generate
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin generātus “begotten, produced,” past participle of generāre “to beget”; see genus
Explanation
Generate means produce or create. A good stock pick might generate cash, and a good idea might generate the basis for an Oscar-winning film. Generate and the closely related word generation both come from the Latin word genus, which means "stock or race." Its root, in turn, is the Proto-Indo-European gen-, "to produce, give birth, or beget." Let's say you have two siblings. In that case, your parents' marriage has generated three children. In a hydroelectric power plant, water generates power. And you can get a paper route or babysit if you're looking to generate a little income.
Vocabulary lists containing generate
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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:
Stop-motion is a great way to generate a nostalgic feel during the holidays and to stand out from obviously machine-generated work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
The IMF says that while garment manufacturing has created jobs and helped reduce poverty, Bangladesh is struggling to generate enough skilled, higher-paid employment, particularly for young people.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Analysts were expecting negative free cash flow for that period, meaning they anticipated the company would spend more on capital expenditures and operating costs than it would generate in cash through its business.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
It can develop on opposing sides of a stem and generate forces in different directions, functioning much like the opposing muscle groups animals use to maintain posture and control movement.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026
That steam carries away the heat, and turns the turbine to generate electricity.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
When the electron returns and releases its energy, it generates light at frequencies far higher than those of the original laser beam.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
According to the Real Madrid-affiliated newspaper Marca, the Madrid club generates between 10 and 15 percent of its sales of jerseys and merchandise in China.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Standard Chartered, which generates much of its profit in Asia, said pretax profit climbed for both its corporate and investment banking business and its wealth and retail banking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
And free cash flow, a measure of the cash Verizon’s business generates after subtracting infrastructure investments, is expected to “approach” 12% growth for 2026.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
Some musk which my system generates must be especially appealing to the authorities of the government.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Scientists believe processes in the extremely early universe may have generated primordial gravitational waves that carry information about conditions from that distant era.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026
As AI lowers the cost of solving problems, human value shifts from producing an answer to asking the right questions and evaluating the answers generated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
The city still would be required to fund the department at the same average percentage out of the general fund, ensuring extra revenue generated by the tax would add to its regular budget.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
Of course, there have been some private-equity funds that have generated spectacular returns over the decades.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
A valve was closed, the water was heated, and the steam generated drove the water upwards out of the cylinder.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Bangladesh's garment industry, which clothes millions of consumers across Europe and North America, is the country's economic lifeline, generating four-fifths of export earnings and employing more than four million people.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Its gross profit increased to $1.40 billion from $1.06 billion, generating a 37.3% gross margin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
To investigate, the scientists recreated conditions found deep within Earth using laboratory equipment capable of generating extraordinary pressures and temperatures.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
The contest was the first world title fight to be broadcast live on TikTok, generating 3.4m views.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
Usually, when Chicken needed Cat, her brain took over, generating Chicken-helping options like a supercomputer.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
