graduate

1 of 3

verb

grad·​u·​ate ˈgra-jə-ˌwāt 

graduated; graduating

intransitive verb

1

: to receive an academic degree or diploma

graduated with honors

2

: to pass from one stage of experience, proficiency, or prestige to a usually higher one

graduated to team leader

3

: to change gradually

transitive verb

1

a

: to grant an academic degree or diploma to

b

: to be graduated from

joined the navy after graduating high school

2

a

: to mark with degrees of measurement

b

: to divide into grades or intervals

3

: to admit to a particular standing or grade

graduator

ˈgra-jə-ˌwā-tər 

noun

Usage of Graduate

In the 19th century the transitive sense (1a) was prescribed; the intransitive

I graduated from college

was condemned. The intransitive prevailed nonetheless, and today it is the sense likely to be prescribed and the newer transitive sense (1b)

she graduated high school

the one condemned. All three are standard. The intransitive is currently the most common, the new transitive the least common.

graduate

2 of 3

noun

grad·​u·​ate ˈgra-jə-wət  -ˌwāt 

ˈgraj-wət

1

: a holder of an academic degree or diploma

a college graduate

2

: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask

graduate

3 of 3

adjective

grad·​u·​ate ˈgra-jə-wət 

1

: of, relating to, or engaged in studies beyond the first or bachelor's degree

graduate school

a graduate student

2

: holding an academic degree or diploma

Examples of graduate in a Sentence

Verb

He graduated from the university last June.

They both graduated with honors.

She graduated with a degree in history.

He joined the navy after graduating from high school.

a graduating class of 300 students

He joined the navy after graduating high school.

The word has graduated from slang to accepted use.

My nephew has graduated from baby food to solid food.

Adjective

He is taking graduate classes at the university.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After graduating from high school, his contract was purchased by the NY Giants–the team that later became the San Francisco Giants. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 19 June 2024

Meet the Experts Tiffany Hsu was born in Taiwan and graduated from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design of London with a fashion design degree. —Olivia Cigliano, WWD, 18 June 2024

Noun

Several of the parade participants were also graduates of Metropolitan Family Services’ Youth Leadership Program. —Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2024

Here, 10 Sandy Hook survivors and recent graduates — several of whom have joined the Jr. Newtown Action Alliance to make schools safer — and five parents whose children were killed reflect on their unimaginable loss and what’s ahead. —Liz McNeil, Peoplemag, 19 June 2024

Adjective

The protests coincided with work stoppages at multiple campuses as graduate students walked off the job on May 28. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 19 June 2024

This morning’s planters are a mix of graduate students from WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture — where Gallegly worked for 38 years — and volunteers who have known the plant pathologist for decades. —Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 15 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduatus, past participle of graduare, from Latin gradus step, degree

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

graduate

1 of 3 noun

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-(ə-)wət 

-ə-ˌwāt

1

: a holder of an academic degree or diploma

2

: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring

graduate

2 of 3 adjective

1

: holding an academic degree or diploma

2

: of or relating to studies beyond the bachelor's degree

graduate

3 of 3 verb

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt 

graduated; graduating

1

: to grant or receive an academic degree or diploma

2

: to divide into grades, classes, or intervals

graduator

-ˌwāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

graduate

1 of 2 noun

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-(ə-)wət  -ə-ˌwāt 

: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring

graduate

2 of 2 transitive verb

grad·​u·​ate ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt 

graduated; graduating

: to mark with degrees of measurement