originate

verb

orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt How to pronounce originate (audio)
originated; originating

intransitive verb

: to take or have origin : begin
That board game originated in the 1940s.

transitive verb

: to give rise to : initiate
The composer originated 10 songs for the Broadway musical.
origination noun
Choose the Right Synonym for originate

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of originate in a Sentence

These stories originated during earlier times. The book originated as a series of lectures. The sound seemed to originate from outside the room. The custom is believed to have originated in the western U.S. He did not originate the idea. The policy was originated by the previous administration.
Recent Examples on the Web The film set staple originated as rustic camping furniture By Hannah Martin July 10, 2024 All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 10 July 2024 The news video team will chase down, originate, ingest and verify news video from all sources, whether that’s on-the-ground video shot by our own journalists, social media video needing verification, video from agencies or affiliates or other sources. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 July 2024 The two wildfires that are affecting Idaho originate near the West Coast. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 9 July 2024 This disease, which might have originated in North Kyrgyzstan, killed one-third of the population in Europe during the 14th century. Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for originate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'originate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of originate was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near originate

Cite this Entry

“Originate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/originate. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

originate

verb
orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈrij-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce originate (audio)
originated; originating
1
: to bring into existence : cause to be : initiate, invent
2
: to come into existence : arise
origination noun
originator noun

Legal Definition

originate

verb
orig·​i·​nate ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnāt How to pronounce originate (audio)
originated; originating

transitive verb

: to give rise to
specifically : to issue (a mortgage loan) usually for subsequent sale in a pool of mortgage loans to a secondary market compare service

intransitive verb

: to take or have origin
origination noun
originator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on originate

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