verb
impregnate
IHMP-rehg-nayt
Impregnate (verb) means to make a woman or female animal pregnant. Example: “The breeding programme aims to impregnate the female pandas at the right time of year.”
verb
1
To make a woman or female animal pregnant.
"The breeding programme aims to impregnate the female pandas at the right time of year."
2
To soak, fill, or saturate a material thoroughly with a substance.
"The wood was impregnated with a preservative to stop it rotting."
"The fabric is impregnated with a chemical that repels insects."
How to use impregnate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make pregnant, or to thoroughly soak/fill a material with something.
Common pairings
impregnate with
impregnated wood
impregnated fabric
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- impregnates
- Past tense
- impregnated
- Comparative
- more impregnate
- Superlative
- most impregnate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The breeding programme aims to _____ the female pandas at the right time of year.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin impraegnatus, past participle of impraegno, built from in- + praegnans ("pregnant").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
become pregnant
Related words
Rhymes for impregnate
See all rhymes for impregnate →Frequently asked questions
What does “impregnate” mean?
The word “impregnate” means to make a woman or female animal pregnant. In plain terms, to make pregnant, or to thoroughly soak/fill a material with something.
How do you pronounce “impregnate”?
“Impregnate” is pronounced IHMP-rehg-nayt (/ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “impregnate” in a sentence?
Here is “impregnate” used in a sentence: “The breeding programme aims to impregnate the female pandas at the right time of year.”
What is another word for “impregnate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “impregnate” include get with child, inseminate, inwomb, knock up and settle.
What is the opposite of “impregnate”?
The opposite of “impregnate” — its antonyms — is become pregnant.
What part of speech is “impregnate”?
“Impregnate” is a verb.
Where does the word “impregnate” come from?
The word “impregnate” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin impraegnatus, past participle of impraegno, built from in- + praegnans ("pregnant").
How many meanings does “impregnate” have?
“Impregnate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a woman or female animal pregnant.
