originate

verb

orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt How to pronounce originate (audio)
originated; originating
Synonyms of originatenext

intransitive verb

: to take or have origin : begin
That board game originated in the 1940s.

transitive verb

: to give rise to : initiate
The composer originated 10 songs for the Broadway musical.
origination
ə-ˌri-jə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce originate (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for originate

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of originate in a Sentence

These stories originated during earlier times. The book originated as a series of lectures. The sound seemed to originate from outside the room. The custom is believed to have originated in the western U.S. He did not originate the idea. The policy was originated by the previous administration.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plant of the Month Plant of the Month: Peanut The peanut, a natural hybrid of two species, originated in Bolivia. —JSTOR Daily, 22 Nov. 2024 The water in the pool originates from the glacially fed Serrano River as part of the property’s water recycling program. —Sable Massingill Martinez, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2024 Green: Ingredient of a popular beverage that originated in Taiwan. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 This gloriously obsessive enterprise could only originate from the enthusiastic fervor of a fan — which Sean very much is. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for originate 

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of originate was in 1668

Phrases Containing originate

Dictionary Entries Near originate

originary

originate

originate with

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Originate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/originate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

originate

verb
orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈrij-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce originate (audio)
originated; originating
1
: to bring into existence : cause to be : initiate, invent
2
: to come into existence : arise
origination
-ˌrij-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce originate (audio)
noun
originator
-ˈrij-ə-ˌnāt-ər How to pronounce originate (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

originate

verb
orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt How to pronounce originate (audio)
originated; originating

transitive verb

: to give rise to
specifically : to issue (a mortgage loan) usually for subsequent sale in a pool of mortgage loans to a secondary market compare service

intransitive verb

: to take or have origin
origination
ə-ˌri-jə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce originate (audio)
noun
originator
ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce originate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on originate

Nglish: Translation of originate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of originate for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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