pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating

transitive verb

1
: to carry out the pollination of
2
: to mark or smudge with pollen

Examples of pollinate in a Sentence

The plants are pollinated by bees.
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.
The term describes how one’s actions have side effects that might be more valuable than the actions themselves, like a bee pollinating the world’s flowers while making honey for its hive. — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026 By doing the bees' job, Carcache and Bloom hope to figure out whether the plants around the parasite are pollinated more than those further away. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Ragweed loves to pollinate during stretches of low humidity and warm afternoons. — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 True summer lasts only about three months, giving plants a narrow window to grow leaves, produce flowers, get pollinated, and make seeds capable of producing the next generation. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pollinate

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollinate was in 1873

Phrases Containing pollinate

Rhymes for pollinate

See All Rhymes for pollinate

Browse Nearby Words

pollinarium
pollinate
pollination
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

pollinate

verb
pol·​li·​nate ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating
: to place pollen on the stigma of
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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