permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt 
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
1
: to spread or diffuse through
a room permeated with tobacco smoke
2
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
Did you know?
Permeate was borrowed into English in the 17th century from Latin permeatus, which comes from the prefix per- ("through") and the verb meare, meaning "to go" or "to pass." Meare hasn't exactly permeated English. Aside from permeate itself, its other English descendants include the relatively common permeable as well as the medical meatus ("a natural body passage") and the downright rare irremeable ("offering no possibility of return").
Examples of permeate in a Sentence
The water permeated the sand.
The smell of baking bread permeated the kitchen.
A feeling of anxiety permeated the office as we rushed to meet the deadline.
The rain permeated through the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Board of Public Safety issued a report, condemning a lack of accountability that permeated the police department.
—
Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
His belief that treating employees with respect and offering stability permeates through his company culture, resulting in a loyal workforce where many of his employees have stayed for over a decade.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Unlike accounting expertise that could be compartmentalized to audit committees, AI permeates every business function.
—Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
This image invokes a crucial debate about justice that already permeates the American health-care system.
—Christine Henneberg, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for permeate
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Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
His belief that treating employees with respect and offering stability permeates through his company culture, resulting in a loyal workforce where many of his employees have stayed for over a decade.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Unlike accounting expertise that could be compartmentalized to audit committees, AI permeates every business function.
—Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
This image invokes a crucial debate about justice that already permeates the American health-care system.
—Christine Henneberg, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for permeate
Cite this Entry
“Permeate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permeate. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
1
: to spread throughout
a room permeated with the scent of flowers
2
: to pass through something which has pores or small openings or is of loose texture : seep through
water permeates sand
permeation
noun
ˌpər-mē-ˈā-shən
Medical Definition
permeate
verb
per·me·ate
ˈpər-mē-ˌāt
permeated; permeating
: to diffuse through or penetrate something
: to pass through the pores or interstices of
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