seed 1 of 2

noun

ˈsēd How to pronounce seed (audio)
Definition of seednext
1
as in root
the source from which something grows or develops ancient Greece provided the seed for much of Western civilization's political and philosophical thought

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2
as in offspring
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant the famous stallion's seed can be found on racetracks all over the world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seed

2 of 2

verb

as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow seeded grass in the backyard

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of seed
Noun
The seed funding adds to an already impressive roster of investors including Stadium, Sweden’s largest sports-fashion retailer, and H&M Group, which has been a strategic investor since 2023. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 BePlain pairs mung bean seed extracts with niacinamide, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, Lee writes in a separate Allure piece; Medicube foregrounds collagen, squalene and niacinamide, per the New York Post’s Victoria McDonnell. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
Start hibiscus seeds indoors about 10 to 14 weeks before the last spring frost. — Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026 The New Development Bank, which is seeded by China, India, and Russia along with other countries in the BRICS consortium, is mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging markets and developing countries. — Eghosa E. Osaghae, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seed
  1. root
  2. offspring
  3. plant
  4. origin
  5. fruit
  6. germ
  7. beginning
Noun
  • Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, attributes the root cause to sluggish economic growth.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Over the next several decades, Mexican American families poured in and set down roots.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • Their efforts to hatch and raise offspring at their nest in Southern California became popular with live cam viewers.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Concurrent surrogacy is used to increase the odds of having a child — in some instances, for rich, single men to create as many of their biological offspring as their egos demand.
    — Arthur L. Caplan, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of offspring
Verb
  • The island, just over 2 miles long, was created in the late 1960s from sand dredged during the deepening of the Elbe shipping channel that serves the port of Hamburg, then left to itself and gradually planted over.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Standing at two hours and 30 minutes, along with a 15-minute intermission, the narrative plants you in the middle of a world of ironies.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of plant
Noun
  • Mosquito traps have now been installed at the airport, Fraport said, adding that the mosquitos captured will be genetically analyzed by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, to determine their species and origin.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fans of Waterbird Coffee were without their downtown Kansas City spot for just a few months before new owners strode in — single origin beans in hand — to save it.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of origin
Noun
  • There is a need for a right-back but, as reported already in this window, that search did not bear any fruit.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • What parents can do on hectic mornings Nemours recommends doing as much as possible the night before, from setting out dishes to cutting up fruit.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fruit
Noun
  • For many kids, the best part of school is being with friends — sharing space, playing on the playground and trading germs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, giving it to someone else can lead to germs being transferred, especially with makeup that touches the lips or eyes.
    — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of germ
Noun
  • That kind of visceral reaction has been baked into Paranormal Activity from the beginning.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The beginning of the advertisement focuses on Miestowski reaching for the driver in a golf bag.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of beginning

Phrases Containing seed

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seed
seedbed
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Cite this Entry

“Seed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seed. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on seed

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seed

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