verb C1 Advanced Uncommon

sprout

sprowt

Sprout (verb) means to begin growing, as a seed or plant does. Example: “The potatoes had sprouted in the dark pantry.”

verb

To begin growing, as a seed or plant does.

"The potatoes had sprouted in the dark pantry."

"Seedlings sprout faster in warm, moist soil."

To appear or spring up suddenly, often in large numbers.

"New coffee shops seem to sprout on every corner these days."

noun

A young shoot or new growth from a plant or seed.

"She added fresh bean sprouts to the stir-fry."

"The first green sprouts poked through the soil after the rain."

How to use sprout

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo start growing, or a new bit of plant growth itself, like a shoot or a bean sprout.

Common pairings

bean sprouts sprout up newly sprouted

Word forms

sprouted past tense, sprouts plural, Sprouts plural, sprouts singular

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The potatoes had _____ in the dark pantry.

Etymology

From Middle English sprouten, related to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German words for sprouting, tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to sprout."

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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ackerspyre

Rhymes for sprout

out tout bout gout lout pout rout about trout spout clout grout

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Frequently asked questions

What does “sprout” mean?

The word “sprout” means to begin growing, as a seed or plant does. In plain terms, to start growing, or a new bit of plant growth itself, like a shoot or a bean sprout.

How do you pronounce “sprout”?

“Sprout” is pronounced sprowt (/spɹaʊt/ in IPA).

How do you use “sprout” in a sentence?

Here is “sprout” used in a sentence: “The potatoes had sprouted in the dark pantry.”

What is another word for “sprout”?

Words with a similar meaning to “sprout” include ackerspyre.

What part of speech is “sprout”?

Depending on how it is used, “sprout” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “sprout” come from?

The word “sprout” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sprouten, related to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German words for sprouting, tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to sprout.".

Is “sprout” a common word?

“Sprout” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “sprout” have?

“Sprout” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to begin growing, as a seed or plant does.