grad·u·ate
ˈgra-jə-ˌwāt 
graduated; graduating
1
: to receive an academic degree or diploma
graduated with honors
2
: to pass from one stage of experience, proficiency, or prestige to a usually higher one
graduated to team leader
3
: to change gradually
1
a
: to grant an academic degree or diploma to
b
: to be graduated from
joined the navy after graduating high school
2
a
: to mark with degrees of measurement
b
: to divide into grades or intervals
3
: to admit to a particular standing or grade
Usage of Graduate
In the 19th century the transitive sense (1a) was prescribed; the intransitive
I graduated from college
was condemned. The intransitive prevailed nonetheless, and today it is the sense likely to be prescribed and the newer transitive sense (1b)
she graduated high school
the one condemned. All three are standard. The intransitive is currently the most common, the new transitive the least common.
grad·u·ate
ˈgra-jə-wət
-ˌwāt
-ˌwāt
ˈgraj-wət
1
: a holder of an academic degree or diploma
a college graduate
2
: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask
grad·u·ate
ˈgra-jə-wət
1
: of, relating to, or engaged in studies beyond the first or bachelor's degree
graduate school
a graduate student
2
: holding an academic degree or diploma
Examples of graduate in a Sentence
Verb
He graduated from the university last June.
They both graduated with honors.
She graduated with a degree in history.
He joined the navy after graduating from high school.
a graduating class of 300 students
He joined the navy after graduating high school.
The word has graduated from slang to accepted use.
My nephew has graduated from baby food to solid food.
Adjective
He is taking graduate classes at the university.
Recent Examples on the Web
Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
Shyamala Harris was born in Chennai, India, and moved to California after graduating from the University of Delhi to pursue a doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology at Berkeley.
—Samantha Putterman, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
The film starred Virginia Madsen as a Chicago graduate student preparing a thesis on the legend of Candyman by investigating inner-city Chicago.
—Variety, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2024
Five graduate students from the University of Arkansas got $5,000 each, and five undergraduate students, including four from the Fayetteville campus and one from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, got $2,500 grants.
—Alex Golden, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for graduate 
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Verb
The insurance executive attended Kansas State University and graduated with degrees in labor relations and general business administration.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
Shyamala Harris was born in Chennai, India, and moved to California after graduating from the University of Delhi to pursue a doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology at Berkeley.
—Samantha Putterman, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
In addition, the number of graduates leaving state colleges after one year or taking longer than four years to get their degree has increased.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
The film starred Virginia Madsen as a Chicago graduate student preparing a thesis on the legend of Candyman by investigating inner-city Chicago.
—Variety, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
He was required reading for decades of graduate students—and the bolder undergraduates.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2024
Five graduate students from the University of Arkansas got $5,000 each, and five undergraduate students, including four from the Fayetteville campus and one from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, got $2,500 grants.
—Alex Golden, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for graduate
Articles Related to graduate
Dictionary Entries Near graduate
Cite this Entry
“Graduate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graduate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
graduate
1 of 3 noun
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-(ə-)wət
-ə-ˌwāt
1
: a holder of an academic degree or diploma
2
: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring
graduate
2 of 3 adjective1
: holding an academic degree or diploma
2
: of or relating to studies beyond the bachelor's degree
graduate
3 of 3 verb
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt
graduated; graduating
1
: to grant or receive an academic degree or diploma
2
: to divide into grades, classes, or intervals
Medical Definition
graduate
1 of 2 noun
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-(ə-)wət
-ə-ˌwāt
-ə-ˌwāt
: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring
graduate
2 of 2 transitive verb
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt
graduated; graduating
: to mark with degrees of measurement
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