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 holiday originated from the story of Esther, which is in the Hebrew bible. The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 As freedom ride buses originating in the North arrived in the Jim Crow South, the activists confronted extreme violence from white supremacists. TIME, 21 Mar. 2024 Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter Investors, says the central bank has tended to follow the Fed’s lead, largely because the consequential economic events of the past two decades, such as the global financial crisis, originated on American soil. Anna Cooban, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 The History of the Cucumber Tea Sandwich Thought to originate in India where cucumbers were first cultivated, it is believed British troops were served the fresh veggie sandwiches in Indian tea houses as a refreshing bite to counter the heat. Jan Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024 Endometriosis is also often associated with bowel dysfunction due to lesions that originate from this area. Megan Dubois, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2024 Thought to have originated during China’s Han dynasty, screens became popular decorative pieces in Europe in the 17th century, when they were used for privacy and to divide rooms and block drafts. Kate Maxwell Lindsey Tramuta Reggie Nadelson Gisela Williams Roxanne Fequiere Siska Lyssens, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 But most consumers don’t understand that the lender who probably originated that mortgage is not the one who continues to own that mortgage. Fortune Editors, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 From Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan, see all the actors who have played James Bond. 01 Sean Connery The late Sean Connery originated the big-screen role of 007 in 1962, with the franchise’s first film, Dr. No. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024

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 29 Mar. 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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