vegetate

[ vej-i-teyt ]

verb (used without object)

, veg·e·tat·ed, veg·e·tat·ing.

1. to grow in, or as in, the manner of a plant.
2. to be passive or unthinking; to do nothing:

   to lie on the beach and vegetate.

3. Pathology. to grow, or increase by growth, as an excrescence.

vegetate

/ ˈvɛdʒɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to grow like a plant; sprout
2. to lead a life characterized by monotony, passivity, or mental inactivity
3. pathol (of a wart, polyp, etc) to develop fleshy outgrowths

Word History and Origins

Origin of vegetate¹

1595–1605; < Latin vegetātus (past participle of vegetāre to quicken, enliven), equivalent to veget ( us ) lively (originally past participle of vegēre to give vigor) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vegetate¹

C17: from Late Latin vegetāre to invigorate

Example Sentences

Inevitably some students will just text, chat, or blissfully vegetate if given more leisure.

From The Daily Beast

“Rather than vegetate upon her small pittance,” returned the doctor briskly.

From Project Gutenberg

Humanity is content to vegetate, much after the fashion of a race of moles.

From Project Gutenberg

No great inward commotion has ever visited them; they vegetate tamely on till they reach the grave.

From Project Gutenberg

Then Tezpi, seeing that the country began to vegetate, left his bark on the mountain of Colhuacan.

From Project Gutenberg

I've been here a month without seeing a soul; I should go mad, if I had to vegetate for another seven months.

From Project Gutenberg