cultivate
verb
cul·ti·vate
ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt 
cultivated; cultivating
1
: to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops
Some fields are cultivated while others lie fallow.
also
: to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
2
a
: to foster the growth of
cultivate vegetables
cultivate coffee
b
: culture sense 2a
cultivate oysters for pearls
c
: to improve by labor, care, or study : refine
cultivate the mind
… cultivated a reputation as a hard-core wheeler-dealer …—
Kit Boss
Kit Boss4
: to seek the society of : make friends with
looking for influential people to cultivate as friends
Examples of cultivate in a Sentence
Prehistoric peoples settled the area and began to cultivate the land.
Some of the fields are cultivated while others lie fallow.
a plant that is cultivated for its fruit
They survived by cultivating vegetables and grain.
He has carefully cultivated his image.
She cultivated a taste for fine wines.
Recent Examples on the Web
As was the case in the Middle East and Afghanistan, ISIS' West Africa Province (ISWAP) cultivated local partnerships by capitalizing on existing conflicts between government forces and insurgents, including Nigeria's powerful Boko Haram, to establish itself as a major player in the region.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
At one point, lavender was cultivated on nearly 1,000 hectares of Hvar, and the island itself accounted for nearly 10 percent of the world’s total lavender production.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025
That calm amid the mayhem is something he’s cultivated all the more through meditation (starting at Texas Tech with Paddy Steinfort, then a mental performance consultant for the school).
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
During her eight-year tenure, Ms. Bondi tried unsuccessfully to overturn and weaken the Affordable Care Act, opposed expanding legal protections for the L.G.B.T.Q. community and cultivated a national reputation by supporting anti-human-trafficking efforts.
—Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cultivate 
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David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
At one point, lavender was cultivated on nearly 1,000 hectares of Hvar, and the island itself accounted for nearly 10 percent of the world’s total lavender production.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025
That calm amid the mayhem is something he’s cultivated all the more through meditation (starting at Texas Tech with Paddy Steinfort, then a mental performance consultant for the school).
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
During her eight-year tenure, Ms. Bondi tried unsuccessfully to overturn and weaken the Affordable Care Act, opposed expanding legal protections for the L.G.B.T.Q. community and cultivated a national reputation by supporting anti-human-trafficking efforts.
—Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cultivate
Dictionary Entries Near cultivate
Cite this Entry
“Cultivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivate. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cultivate
verb
cul·ti·vate
ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt
cultivated; cultivating
1
a
: to prepare land for the raising of crops
b
: to loosen or break up the soil around (growing plants)
2
a
: to raise or assist the growth of by tilling or by labor and care
cultivate vegetables
cultivate oysters
b
3
: to improve or develop by careful attention, training, or study : devote time and thought to
cultivate one's mind
cultivate the arts
4
: to seek the company and friendship of
Medical Definition
cultivate
transitive verb
cul·ti·vate
ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt
cultivated; cultivating
: culture sense 1
viruses cultivated in brain tissue
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