Definition of PERCOLATES (original) (raw)
1
a
: to cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance (such as a powdered drug) especially for extracting a soluble constituent
1
: to ooze or trickle through a permeable substance : seep
2
b
: to become lively or effervescent
3
: to spread gradually
allow the sunlight to percolate into our rooms—
Norman Douglas
Did you know?
Percolate comes from a Latin verb meaning "to put through a sieve". Something that percolates filters through something else, just as small particles pass through a sieve. Water is drawn downward through the soil, and this percolation usually cleans the water. A slow rain is ideal for percolating into the soil, since in a violent rainstorm most of it quickly runs off. For this reason, drip irrigation is the most effective and water-conserving form of irrigation. Percolation isn't always a physical process; awareness of an issue may percolate slowly into the minds of the public, just as Spanish words may gradually percolate into English, often starting in the Southwest.
Synonyms
Examples of percolate in a Sentence
Sunlight percolated down through the trees. Rumors percolated throughout the town. There is nothing like percolating coffee over an open campfire. Coffee was percolating on the stove.
Recent Examples on the Web Moving to a different state emboldened Lee to chase another dream that had been percolating in the back of her mind: Opening a salon. —Morgan Smith, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2024 Locke definitely saw those theories percolating online. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2024 This was a cast gifted with dark humor, gifted with percolating drama, gifted with the eye hockey that happens as subtext in these. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2024 He’s been largely off the road since wrapping an extensive tour that December, but sources tell SPIN there are live shows percolating more sooner than later. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for percolate 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'percolate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin percolatus, past participle of percolare, from per- through + colare to sieve — more at per-, colander
First Known Use
1626, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of percolate was in 1626
Dictionary Entries Near percolate
Cite this Entry
“Percolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percolate. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Last Updated: 24 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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