infiltrate
verb
in·fil·trate
ˈin-(ˌ)fil-ˌtrāt 
in-ˈfil-
in-ˈfil-
infiltrated; infiltrating
1
: to enter or become established in gradually or unobtrusively usually for subversive purposes
the intelligence staff had been infiltrated by spies
2
: to pass (troops) singly or in small groups through gaps in the enemy line
3
: to pass into or through (a substance) by filtering or permeating
4
: to cause (something, such as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or interstices
: to enter, permeate, or pass through a substance or area by filtering or by insinuating gradually
infiltrate
noun
Examples of infiltrate in a Sentence
The gang was infiltrated by undercover agents.
Attempts to infiltrate undercover agents into the gang have failed.
Water can easily infiltrate the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web
Her daughters, Ella (Ramsey), and Jo (Young), put everything on the line to infiltrate the cult and bring their mother back home.
—
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 May 2024
An hour later, Palestinian gunmen breached security barriers and infiltrated Israel by land, air and sea, killing 1,200 people, taking 253 hostages and touching off a bloody war that threatened to engulf the Middle East.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for infiltrate 
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 May 2024
An hour later, Palestinian gunmen breached security barriers and infiltrated Israel by land, air and sea, killing 1,200 people, taking 253 hostages and touching off a bloody war that threatened to engulf the Middle East.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for infiltrate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infiltrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near infiltrate
Cite this Entry
“Infiltrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infiltrate. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
infiltrate
verb
in·fil·trate
in-ˈfil-ˌtrāt
ˈin-(ˌ)fil-
ˈin-(ˌ)fil-
infiltrated; infiltrating
1
: to pass into or through by filtering
2
: to enter or become established gradually or secretly
Medical Definition
infiltrate
1 of 2 verb
in·fil·trate
in-ˈfil-ˌtrāt
ˈin-(ˌ)
ˈin-(ˌ)
infiltrated; infiltrating
1
: to cause (as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or interstices
infiltrate tissue with a local anesthetic
2
: to pass into or through (a substance) by filtering or permeating
: to enter, permeate, or pass through a substance or area
infiltrate
2 of 2 noun
: something that passes or is caused to pass into or through something by permeating or filtering
especially
: a substance that passes into the bodily tissues and forms an abnormal accumulation
a lung infiltrate
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