Meaning & Definition of Penetrate in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: To enter or pass through an object or barrier.

  Example Sentence: The bullet managed to penetrate the thick wall.

• Definition: To understand or discover something hidden.

  Example Sentence: She was able to penetrate the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

• Definition: To influence or affect deeply.

  Example Sentence: His words seemed to penetrate her thoughts.

• Definition: To break into a market or field.

  Example Sentence: The new company aimed to penetrate the mobile phone market.

• Definition: To insert or thrust into.

  Example Sentence: He had to penetrate the soil to plant the seeds.

Etymology

Origin: From Latin 'penetrare', meaning 'to enter, penetrate'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• penetrate someone's defenses: To find a way to overcome obstacles or barriers in a person's emotional or psychological protection.
• penetrate the darkness: To see or understand something hidden or obscured.
• penetrate a market: To successfully enter a new market area with products or services.

Translations

• Spanish: penetrar

• French: pénétrer

• German: durchdringen

• Russian: проникать

Related Words

• penetration: The act of penetrating or the state of being penetrated.

• penetrable: Capable of being penetrated; allowing passage.

• pene: Referring to something related to penetration, often in medical or anatomical contexts.

Slang Meanings of penetrate

• Meaning: To engage in sexual intercourse.

  Example Sentence: They decided to penetrate each other's personal space.

• Meaning: To understand someone deeply or intimately.

  Example Sentence: He really penetrated her thoughts during their talk.