pervade

verb

per·​vade pər-ˈvād 

pervaded; pervading

transitive verb

: to become diffused throughout every part of

Did you know?

English speakers borrowed pervade in the mid-17th century from Latin pervadere, meaning "to go through." Pervadere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix per-, meaning "through," with the verb vadere, meaning "to go." Synonyms of pervade include permeate, impregnate, and saturate. Pervade stresses a spreading diffusion throughout every part of a whole ("art and music pervade every aspect of their lives"). Permeate implies diffusion specifically throughout a material thing ("the smell of freshly baked bread permeated the house"). Impregnate suggests a forceful influence or effect on something throughout ("impregnate the cotton with alcohol"). Saturate is used when nothing more may be taken up or absorbed ("the cloth is saturated with water").

Synonyms

• interpenetrate
• percolate (into)
• permeate
• riddle
• suffuse
• transfuse

Examples of pervade in a Sentence

A feeling of great sadness pervades the film.

Art and music pervade every aspect of their lives.

Recent Examples on the Web

Believer or not, there is no denying the palpable spiritual energy that pervades the Kumbh: Offerings of flowers and incense sticks drift across the water; the days are filled with chants and drumming; and smoke from earthen lamps curls through the air. —Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024

And yet the drawings, focused on arrangements of everyday objects, offer a quiet counterpoint to the sorrow that pervades the stories. —Curbed Editors, Curbed, 29 Nov. 2024

At first, the nurses mostly provided first aid and trauma care, treating wounds and respiratory infections and rashes from the dirt and mud that pervaded the entire town after the storm. —Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024

The uncertainty, the instability, the danger that pervades his life worms off the page and into your brain. —Longreads, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin pervadere to go through, pervade, from per- through + vadere to go — more at per-, wade

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

pervade

verb

per·​vade pər-ˈvād 

pervaded; pervading

: to spread through all parts of : permeate