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Definition of proliferate

proliferate

/prəˈlɪf.ə.reɪt/
pro · lif · er · ate
Adjective:proliferative
•
Past Simple:proliferated
•
Past Participle:proliferated
•
Present Participle:proliferating
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proliferate Lexical Profile

proliferate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To increase rapidly in numbers or spread quickly; to multiply.

Example

"Independent coffee shops have begun to proliferate across the downtown neighborhood over the past five years."

2

To grow or reproduce rapidly by the multiplication of parts, cells, or buds (of a living organism, tissue, or cell).

Example

"Under warm laboratory conditions, the cultured cells began to proliferate within hours."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for proliferate

• Nearby Words

projector
prolabor
proletariat
proliferate
proliferation
prolific
prolifically

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century as a back-formation from the noun 'proliferation', which came from French 'prolifération', ultimately derived from Latin 'proles' (offspring) and 'ferre' (to bear).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Proliferate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/proliferate
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