innervate

verb

in·​ner·​vate i-ˈnər-ˌvāt  ˈi-(ˌ)nər- 

innervated; innervating

transitive verb

: to supply with nerves

innervation

ˌi-(ˌ)nər-ˈvā-shən 

i-ˌnər-

noun

Examples of innervate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After a very strong start to her campaign that included packed rallies and innervating stump speeches, Harris mostly regressed back to the ultimately unknowable candidate whom Democratic voters rejected back in 2019. —Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024

As new neighborhoods pop up, the desert is innervated by endless black roads. —The Arizona Republic, 27 July 2023

The SetPoint implant is inserted beside the patient’s vagus nerve, which travels down from the brain to innervate the spleen and other vital organs. —IEEE Spectrum, 26 Dec. 2022

For centuries, fad diets have preyed on those who've been brutalized by feminine beauty standards, and Johnson is breaking tradition with an ascetic set of rules designed to innervate a more masculine insecurity. —Luke Winkie, Bon Appétit, 31 Aug. 2022

The mandibular nerve passes through this opening to innervate the teeth, gums and chin. —David W. Frayer, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2022

Different bundles innervate different muscle groups, allowing the potential for fairly precise control. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 8 Feb. 2022

Instead of balling up, the nerves innervated the muscle tissue, which greatly amplified their electrical signal. —Matt Simon, Wired, 4 Mar. 2020

Based on experiments in rodents, Moskowitz believes CSD can trigger migraines by irritating a network of neurons, the trigeminovascular system, which innervates cerebral blood vessels. —Emily Underwood, Science | AAAS, 18 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for innervate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Medical Definition

innervate

transitive verb

in·​ner·​vate in-ˈər-ˌvāt, ˈin-(ˌ)ər- 

innervated; innervating

1

: to supply with nerves

2

: to arouse or stimulate (a nerve or an organ) to activity