generate
verb
gen·er·ate
ˈje-nə-ˌrāt 
generated; generating; generates
1
2
: to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
These stories … generate a good deal of psychological suspense …—
Atlantic
Atlantic3
: to define or originate (something, such as a mathematical or linguistic set or structure) by the application of one or more rules or operations
especially
: to trace out (something, such as a curve) by a moving point or to trace out (a surface) by a moving curve
Examples of generate in a Sentence
windmills used to generate electricity
This business should generate a lot of revenue.
We hope to generate some new ideas at the meeting.
His theories have generated a great deal of interest among other scientists.
Her comments have generated a good deal of excitement.
They have been unable to generate much support for their proposals.
Recent Examples on the Web
Control rods are used to control the speed of the reactions that generate nuclear fission, and in turn nuclear energy.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
The German champions are the fifth-highest-earning club in world football, according to Deloitte, and consistently profitable, generating a £135m pre-tax surplus in the past five seasons.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 25 July 2025
While many Japanese fishers are trained in ike jime, the practice isn’t widely adopted in the US — and growing demand for humane harvesting techniques and high-quality seafood could generate appetite for the fish-killing robot.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 25 July 2025
The Buddy Crossword Clue Answer is... Answer: PAL For more on USA TODAY's Crossword Puzzles
Daily Crossword Analysis from Sally Hoelscher
This crossword clue page was generated automatically using information from puzzles.usatoday.com.
—Sally Hoelscher, USA Today, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for generate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
The German champions are the fifth-highest-earning club in world football, according to Deloitte, and consistently profitable, generating a £135m pre-tax surplus in the past five seasons.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 25 July 2025
While many Japanese fishers are trained in ike jime, the practice isn’t widely adopted in the US — and growing demand for humane harvesting techniques and high-quality seafood could generate appetite for the fish-killing robot.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 25 July 2025
The Buddy Crossword Clue Answer is... Answer: PAL For more on USA TODAY's Crossword Puzzles
Daily Crossword Analysis from Sally Hoelscher
This crossword clue page was generated automatically using information from puzzles.usatoday.com.
—Sally Hoelscher, USA Today, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for generate
Cite this Entry
“Generate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
generate
verb
gen·er·ate
ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt
generated; generating
1
: to bring into existence
generate electricity
2
: to be the cause of or reason for
news that generated excitement
generative
adjective
-ə-ˌrāt-iv
-(ə-)rət-
Medical Definition
generate
verb
gen·er·ate
ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt
generated; generating
: to bring into existence
: to produce offspring : propagate
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