verb
Uncommon
infiltrate
IHN-fihlt-rayt
Infiltrate (verb) means to secretly gain entry into an organization or place, often to spy or cause harm. Example: “The agent managed to infiltrate the smuggling ring within weeks.”
verb
1
To secretly gain entry into an organization or place, often to spy or cause harm.
"The agent managed to infiltrate the smuggling ring within weeks."
"Hackers infiltrated the company's network through a fake email attachment."
2
To pass gradually into something, as a liquid seeping through a material.
"Rainwater slowly infiltrated the cracked foundation."
How to use infiltrate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo sneak into a place or group without being noticed, or to seep gradually into something.
Common pairings
infiltrate an organization
infiltrate enemy lines
infiltrate a network
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like infiltrate.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- infiltrates
- Third person singular
- infiltrates
- Past tense
- infiltrated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The agent managed to _____ the smuggling ring within weeks.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin infiltratus, ultimately from in- ("into") plus filtrare ("to filter").
Synonyms
View more →
penetrate
pass through
Related words
Rhymes for infiltrate
See all rhymes for infiltrate →Frequently asked questions
What does “infiltrate” mean?
The word “infiltrate” means to secretly gain entry into an organization or place, often to spy or cause harm. In plain terms, to sneak into a place or group without being noticed, or to seep gradually into something.
How do you pronounce “infiltrate”?
“Infiltrate” is pronounced IHN-fihlt-rayt (/ˈɪnfəltɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “infiltrate” in a sentence?
Here is “infiltrate” used in a sentence: “The agent managed to infiltrate the smuggling ring within weeks.”
What part of speech is “infiltrate”?
“Infiltrate” is a verb.
Where does the word “infiltrate” come from?
The word “infiltrate” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin infiltratus, ultimately from in- ("into") plus filtrare ("to filter").
Is “infiltrate” a common word?
“Infiltrate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “infiltrate” have?
“Infiltrate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to secretly gain entry into an organization or place, often to spy or cause harm.
