mutate

verb

mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt How to pronounce mutate (audio) myü-ˈtāt How to pronounce mutate (audio)
mutated; mutating
Synonyms of mutatenext

intransitive verb

: to undergo mutation

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo mutation
mutative
ˈmyü-ˌtā-tiv How to pronounce mutate (audio) -tə-tiv How to pronounce mutate (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of mutate

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Examples of mutate in a Sentence

a disease that mutates genes in humans a group of mutated genes Over time, her feelings mutated from hatred into love. opera singers mutating into pop stars
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.
Stars Gianna Jun as Professor Se-jeong, who is thrust into a bloody nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is released during a biotech conference, causing authorities to seal the facility. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 The Clash’s original line-up soldiered on until 1982, by which time punk rock had mutated into post-punk and new wave. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026 Of these, 16 of them proved to be viable and able to kill certain strains of Escherichia coli—including strains of the bacterium that had mutated to be resistant to the original reference genome of ΦX174. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026 The causes of superhero fatigue — which have recently arguably mutated into full-on franchise fatigue for many properties — have been endlessly discussed. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mutate

Word History

Etymology

Latin mutatus, past participle of mutare

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of mutate was in 1818

Rhymes for mutate

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Browse Nearby Words

mutase
mutate
mutation
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Cite this Entry

“Mutate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mutate

verb
mu·​tate ˈmyü-ˌtāt How to pronounce mutate (audio)
mutated; mutating
: to undergo or cause to undergo mutation

Medical Definition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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