gestate

verb

ges·​tate ˈje-ˌstāt How to pronounce gestate (audio)
gestated; gestating

transitive verb

1
: to carry in the uterus during pregnancy
2
: to conceive and gradually develop in the mind

intransitive verb

: to be in the process of gestation

Examples of gestate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The final straw seems to be the threat of returning home for SAT prep courses on a Sunday, but while Penelope’s decision to leave at that exact moment may be impulsive, her decision to leave in general has been long gestating. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2024 It’s taken an age to get the gang back together—the follow-up film has long been gestating, and after production finally began, it was paused over the summer of 2023 as a result of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 30 May 2024 Some of the demands have long been gestating and there’s plenty for the negotiators to get their teeth into. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 July 2024 The concept wasn’t entirely novel: shark researchers in Australia had previously gestated six ornate wobbegong pups for 18 days in an artificial uterus. Claudia Geib, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for gestate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gestate.' 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

back-formation from gestation

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gestate was in 1858

Dictionary Entries Near gestate

Cite this Entry

“Gestate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

gestate

verb
ges·​tate ˈjes-ˌtāt How to pronounce gestate (audio)
gestated; gestating

transitive verb

: to carry in the uterus during pregnancy

intransitive verb

: to be in the process of gestation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!