ovulation

noun

ovu·​la·​tion ˌä vyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce ovulation (audio) ˌō- How to pronounce ovulation (audio)
: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary
Doctors have found that a few days before ovulation, as many as 30 to 50 egg follicles have begun to mature. Normally, only one will fully ripen … and the rest are lost.Mary Duenwald
In principle, ovulation takes place midway through a 28-day … cycle.Judith N. Schwartz

Examples of ovulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Most of those work by either thickening the cervical mucus so sperm can't get to the uterus or stopping ovulation or making it so the sperm can't swim. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2024 By Loren Savini Beyond cost though, going through the process of IVF, undergoing the ovulation and induction process multiple times, can be extremely taxing on someone’s body. Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 13 Sep. 2024 During perimenopause, ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) may not occur every month. Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2024 Along with ovulation and sleep stage tracking, the new watch will be able to detect sleep apnea using an accelerometer to identify breathing disturbances. Jenn Brice, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ovulation 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ovulation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ovule or its source, Medieval Latin ōvulum + -ation

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ovulation was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near ovulation

Cite this Entry

“Ovulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ovulation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

ovulation

noun
ovu·​la·​tion ˌäv-yə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce ovulation (audio)
also
ˌōv- How to pronounce ovulation (audio)
: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary
The persistent high level of estrogen induces an abrupt release of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland, and this hormonal surge then triggers ovulation.Hsiu-Wei Su et al., Bioengineering & Translational Medicine

More from Merriam-Webster on ovulation

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