Proliferate
verb
To increase or spread quickly in number or amount.
Once introduced to an area, these weeds proliferate rapidly
Often appears as...
- proliferate rapidly
- proliferate widely
verb
To produce new cells, parts, or organisms, especially in a controlled or planned way.
A single bacterium can proliferate into millions within 24 hours
Often appears as...
- cells proliferate
- bacteria proliferate
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To increase or spread quickly in number or amount.
Once introduced to an area, these weeds proliferate rapidly
Often appears as...
- proliferate rapidly
- proliferate widely
verb
To produce new cells, parts, or organisms, especially in a controlled or planned way.
A single bacterium can proliferate into millions within 24 hours
Often appears as...
- cells proliferate
- bacteria proliferate
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Quick Expansion
Use 'proliferate' when something grows or increases rapidly and extensively.
Mobile apps have started to proliferate across the internet.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often has a negative connotation, suggesting uncontrollable or excessive growth.
Conspiracy theories tend to proliferate online during a crisis.
Pro Tip 3/3Unintended Spread
Suggests spreading despite efforts to control or is unplanned.
Once the rumor started, it proliferated through the school.
Pro Tip 1/3Quick Expansion
Use 'proliferate' when something grows or increases rapidly and extensively.
Mobile apps have started to proliferate across the internet.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often has a negative connotation, suggesting uncontrollable or excessive growth.
Conspiracy theories tend to proliferate online during a crisis.
Pro Tip 3/3Unintended Spread
Suggests spreading despite efforts to control or is unplanned.
Once the rumor started, it proliferated through the school.
Pro Tip 1/3Quick Expansion
Use 'proliferate' when something grows or increases rapidly and extensively.
Mobile apps have started to proliferate across the internet.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often has a negative connotation, suggesting uncontrollable or excessive growth.
Conspiracy theories tend to proliferate online during a crisis.
Pro Tip 3/3Unintended Spread
Suggests spreading despite efforts to control or is unplanned.
Once the rumor started, it proliferated through the school.
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Video examples
Why Moths are Obsessed...
similarly follow the light source at a precise position and a precise angle to their bodies this is how moths would navigate for millions of years by the light of the moon what moth evolution couldn't account for was the proliferation of constant electric light in our modern world when
Video examples
What is love? - Brad...
slowly or suddenly, you don't. You've fallen out of love, become unaddicted, for a spell. What happened? Does one develop a tolerance or hit a limit? Why do some lovers stay addicted to each other their entire lives? Perhaps to create new lives, to proliferate their species?
Video examples
What causes antibiotic...
while others use a method called conjugation, connecting through pili to share their genes. Over time, the resistant genes proliferate, creating entire strains of resistant super bacteria. So how much time do we have before these superbugs take over?
Video examples
What we know (and don't...
It begins by attacking the immune system's cells and neutralizing its responses, allowing the virus to proliferate. Starting anywhere from two to twenty days after contraction, initial symptoms like high temperature, aching, and sore throat
Video examples
Good news about...
drive that number down to seven we have a chance to actually ask the question can we end pandemics in our lifetime look at the proliferation of new activities and organizations all in the last 10 years so we're unleashing the
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
and not about genocide or nuclear proliferation or poverty or any other hugely consequential issue. But the demagogues are right about one We need a universal conception of human values. Now, what stands in the way of this?
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
of both the left-wing and the right. But he was also deeply concerned with how such ideologies proliferate. And one of his most profound insights was the importance that language plays in shaping our thoughts and opinions.
Video examples
Earworms: Those songs...
If repetition is such a trigger, then perhaps we can blame our earworms on modern technology. The last hundred years have seen an incredible proliferation of devices that help you listen to the same thing again and again.
Video examples
How does cancer spread...
As the cells proliferate, they spread via one of the three common routes of transcoelomic, lymphatic, or hematogenous spread. In transcoelomic spread, malignant cells penetrate the covering surfaces
Video examples
The Fish That Hunts...
they have proliferated virtually exterminated the local fish stocks and they've now developed a taste for pigeon
Video examples
Why Moths are Obsessed...
similarly follow the light source at a precise position and a precise angle to their bodies this is how moths would navigate for millions of years by the light of the moon what moth evolution couldn't account for was the proliferation of constant electric light in our modern world when
Video examples
What is love? - Brad...
slowly or suddenly, you don't. You've fallen out of love, become unaddicted, for a spell. What happened? Does one develop a tolerance or hit a limit? Why do some lovers stay addicted to each other their entire lives? Perhaps to create new lives, to proliferate their species?
Video examples
What causes antibiotic...
while others use a method called conjugation, connecting through pili to share their genes. Over time, the resistant genes proliferate, creating entire strains of resistant super bacteria. So how much time do we have before these superbugs take over?
Video examples
What we know (and don't...
It begins by attacking the immune system's cells and neutralizing its responses, allowing the virus to proliferate. Starting anywhere from two to twenty days after contraction, initial symptoms like high temperature, aching, and sore throat
Video examples
Good news about...
drive that number down to seven we have a chance to actually ask the question can we end pandemics in our lifetime look at the proliferation of new activities and organizations all in the last 10 years so we're unleashing the
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
and not about genocide or nuclear proliferation or poverty or any other hugely consequential issue. But the demagogues are right about one We need a universal conception of human values. Now, what stands in the way of this?
Video examples
What "Orwellian" really...
of both the left-wing and the right. But he was also deeply concerned with how such ideologies proliferate. And one of his most profound insights was the importance that language plays in shaping our thoughts and opinions.
Video examples
Earworms: Those songs...
If repetition is such a trigger, then perhaps we can blame our earworms on modern technology. The last hundred years have seen an incredible proliferation of devices that help you listen to the same thing again and again.
Video examples
How does cancer spread...
As the cells proliferate, they spread via one of the three common routes of transcoelomic, lymphatic, or hematogenous spread. In transcoelomic spread, malignant cells penetrate the covering surfaces
Video examples
The Fish That Hunts...
they have proliferated virtually exterminated the local fish stocks and they've now developed a taste for pigeon
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Hugh Shelton
American Soldier
Those are the things that, in the wrong hands - and certainly in our war on terrorism we also must attack proliferation and those nations that proliferate with chemical, biological and nuclear type devices, because that can cause the most catastrophic results.
Quote examples
Kris Marshall
English Actor
With the proliferation of social media, selfies are one of those modern diseases that unfortunately come with the territory, but they are beneficial in getting the word around about the show, and the popularity of 'Death In Paradise' has just exploded.
Quote examples
Helen Mirren
British Actress
I'll tell you what me scares me is plastic. Plastic bags and plastic bottles and these things. Why does my water have to be in a bloody plastic bottle? The landfill and the ocean. And I don't know, I'm just terrified with the proliferation of plastic.
Quote examples
Kofi Annan
Ghanaian Statesman
Above all else, we need a reaffirmation of political commitment at the highest levels to reducing the dangers that arise both from existing nuclear weapons and from further proliferation.
Quote examples
Joel Fuhrman
American Scientist
A high nutrient diet, if widely adopted, could bring millions of people in touch with true hunger, and stop the proliferation of obesity and preventable chronic disease.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The threat and use of violence is stimulating nuclear proliferation along with jihadi terrorism.
Quote examples
Lawrence Wright
American Author
If you call it al-Qaida or bin Ladenism or jihadism, whatever you call it, it's proliferated.
Quote examples
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem
French Politician
The proliferation of bans fuels stereotypes and discriminates against a community.
Quote examples
Lydia Millet
American Novelist
You need not fear my extinction. Fear my proliferation! I've already reproduced!
Quote examples
Autre Ne Veut
American Musician
I'd rather proliferate funny little rumors than not.
Quote examples
Hugh Shelton
American Soldier
Those are the things that, in the wrong hands - and certainly in our war on terrorism we also must attack proliferation and those nations that proliferate with chemical, biological and nuclear type devices, because that can cause the most catastrophic results.
Quote examples
Kris Marshall
English Actor
With the proliferation of social media, selfies are one of those modern diseases that unfortunately come with the territory, but they are beneficial in getting the word around about the show, and the popularity of 'Death In Paradise' has just exploded.
Quote examples
Helen Mirren
British Actress
I'll tell you what me scares me is plastic. Plastic bags and plastic bottles and these things. Why does my water have to be in a bloody plastic bottle? The landfill and the ocean. And I don't know, I'm just terrified with the proliferation of plastic.
Quote examples
Kofi Annan
Ghanaian Statesman
Above all else, we need a reaffirmation of political commitment at the highest levels to reducing the dangers that arise both from existing nuclear weapons and from further proliferation.
Quote examples
Joel Fuhrman
American Scientist
A high nutrient diet, if widely adopted, could bring millions of people in touch with true hunger, and stop the proliferation of obesity and preventable chronic disease.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The threat and use of violence is stimulating nuclear proliferation along with jihadi terrorism.
Quote examples
Lawrence Wright
American Author
If you call it al-Qaida or bin Ladenism or jihadism, whatever you call it, it's proliferated.
Quote examples
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem
French Politician
The proliferation of bans fuels stereotypes and discriminates against a community.
Quote examples
Lydia Millet
American Novelist
You need not fear my extinction. Fear my proliferation! I've already reproduced!
Quote examples
Autre Ne Veut
American Musician
I'd rather proliferate funny little rumors than not.
Example 1 of 10
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