precipitate

1 of 3

verb

pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
precipitated; precipitating

transitive verb

1
a
: to throw violently : hurl
the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankindA. B. Arons
b
: to throw down
2
: to bring about especially abruptly
precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsionJohn Cheever
3
a
: to cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit

intransitive verb

1
a
: to fall headlong
b
: to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2
: to move or act with violent or unwise speed
3
a
: to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
precipitative adjective
precipitator noun

precipitate

2 of 3

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsi-pə-tət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
-ˌtāt
1
: a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
2
: a product, result, or outcome of some process or action

precipitate

3 of 3

adjective

pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsi-pə-tət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
1
a
: falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
2
: exhibiting violent or unwise speed
precipitately adverb
precipitateness noun

Did you know?

Many people, including usage commentators, are insistent about keeping the adjectives "precipitate" and "precipitous" distinct. "Precipitate," they say, means "headlong" or "impetuous"; "precipitous" means only "steep." And, indeed, "precipitate" is used mostly in the "headlong" sense, whereas "precipitous" usually means "steep." But one shouldn't be too hasty about insisting on the distinction. The truth is that "precipitate" and "precipitous" have had a tendency to overlap for centuries. Lexicographer Samuel Johnson, in his dictionary of 1755, defined "precipitate" as "steeply falling," "headlong," and "hasty," while "precipitous" was "headlong; steep," and "hasty." Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary included much the same definitions. The words' etymologies overlap as well. Both ultimately come from Latin praeceps, which means "headlong."

Choose the Right Synonym for precipitate

precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous, sudden mean showing undue haste or unexpectedness.

precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

Examples of precipitate in a Sentence

Verb When Achilles is informed by his mother, the sea-goddess Thetis, that vanquishing Hector on the battlefield will precipitate his own demise, he unhesitatingly opts for the gusto. Mark Leyner, Time, 13 Nov. 2000
The vast room darkens. The videotape … begins on two identical screens set high above the nave. The soaring lyrics of LeeAnn Rimes's "How Do I Live (Without You)" precipitate a collective tension and welling, repressed tearfulness. Jayne Anne Phillips, Harper's, November 1998
Her death precipitated a family crisis. The budget problem was precipitated by many unexpected costs. minerals that precipitate from seawater Noun Yet trained, and by nature inclined, to persevere through the stenches, messes, explosions and disasters of a laboratory, he fixed his gaze upon an unlikely precipitate: human resilience, a sort of radioactive trace element. Richard Eder, New York Times Book Review, 16 June 2002
the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution Adjective The precipitate decline in support for Aristide has probably less to do with Haiti's political crisis than with the continuous and unrelenting economic battering: the Haitian gourde, which a year ago was trading at 27 to the dollar, by late February was down to 55 to the dollar. Peter Dailey, New York Review of Books, 27 Mar. 2002
Almost at once I began to remember why drive-ins went into such a precipitate decline. To begin with, it is not remotely comfortable to sit in a car to watch a movie. Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
Assuming that the offering goes ahead—and only a precipitate slide in the stock market will stop it—a big slice of Wall Street history will disappear. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 1999
the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
There was no word on a motive, and police did not elaborate on the circumstances that precipitated the incident. Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 Further discussing potential societal shifts AI could precipitate, Schwarzman highlighted healthcare as a sector poised for significant transformation. Mark Minevich, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 And yet Brundle’s devolution—and, by extension, his anguished acquisition of wings—is quite literally precipitated by the violence of his love for Veronica. Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 The report, of course, included damning details of Biden not being able to place the years of his vice presidency nor — and this is what precipitated Biden’s angry press conference in response — the year of his son Beau Biden’s death. The Editors, National Review, 12 Feb. 2024 The 3 to 2 vote to kick Espino out of City Hall followed a similarly narrow vote on Jan. 31 to fire his wife, Barbara Hernandez, as Doral’s city manager — a vote precipitated by allegations that Hernandez had abused city resources to benefit her husband. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2024 Sexton’s office did not respond to questions about what precipitated the changes by the rules committee, nor about the elevator incident. Dakin Andone, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024 Beating those marks can raise a candidate's viability in the eyes of the press, donors and voters, precipitating increased and more positive media coverage, stronger fundraising and greater support in later electoral contests. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2024 Recent surveys suggest Hamas’ popularity among Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza is running higher despite — or because of — the devastating Oct. 7 cross-border attack on Israel that precipitated the war. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2023
Noun
The actor John Maria Gutierrez, even when disguised as a white businessman in a full-face mask, turns precipitate falls into rolls and handstands; the elegant Marcus McGregor, who danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Feld Ballet, demonstrates the cautious poise of a fawn. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024 Could that aforementioned depth precipitate more 4-3 looks this year? Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023 Specific metals are then extracted using a series of electrified filters, producing a nickel-cobalt product, mixed hydroxide precipitate. Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 27 July 2023 Every summer, calcium carbonate precipitates from the lake’s warming water and falls to the lakebed, creating a visible barrier between each year of sediment. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2023 Much of the warm, moist air precipitates between the entrance of the valley, at around 1,350 meters, and the village of Lama Hotel at 2,480 meters. Walter Immerzeel, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2021 If the alkalinity gets too high, a chemical precipitate forms which can be toxic to ocean plankton. Eric Niiler, WSJ, 6 Mar. 2022 Our allies are rightly upset, blaming the U.S. for a precipitate, unilateral withdrawal that missed the opportunity for any coordinated plan to preserve some of the gains made in the country. Angelina Jolie, Time, 20 Aug. 2021 Does the mere act of making banks and other companies reveal their carbon footprint precipitate progress on eliminating climate risk? Tim McDonnell, Quartz, 21 May 2021
Adjective
An additional factor that has been increasingly in the mix is that old and deteriorating dam infrastructure can fail amidst excessive rainfall events and precipitate catastrophic flooding. Sarah Raza, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023 Those updates references – and the series of chases, Rube Goldberg mechanisms, and bits of derring-do they all precipitate – also allowed the filmmaking to push their formal boundaries. Ben Croll, Variety, 14 June 2023 Many writers, mostly men, continue to rely on rape as a nuclear option for female characters, a tool with which to impassion viewers, precipitate drama, and stir up controversy. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 4 May 2021 This is all to the good, and better than a precipitate total withdrawal. The Editors, National Review, 22 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precipitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Adjective

Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare, from praecipit-, praeceps — see precipice

Noun

New Latin praecipitatum, from Latin, neuter of praecipitatus — see precipitate entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1528, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of precipitate was in 1528

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Dictionary Entries Near precipitate

Cite this Entry

“Precipitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

precipitate

1 of 3 verb
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
precipitated; precipitating
1
a
: to throw violently : hurl
b
: to fall headlong
2
: to bring about suddenly
an event that precipitated war
3
a
: to separate or cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to change from a vapor to a liquid or solid and fall as rain or snow
precipitator noun

precipitate

2 of 3 noun
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ət-ət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
-ə-ˌtāt
: a usually solid substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change

precipitate

3 of 3 adjective
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ət-ət How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
: hasty sense 2
a precipitate attack
precipitately adverb

Medical Definition

precipitate

1 of 2 verb
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
precipitated; precipitating

transitive verb

1
: to bring about especially abruptly
2
a
: to cause to separate from solution or suspension
b
: to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit

intransitive verb

1
: to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2
: to separate from solution or suspension

precipitate

2 of 2 noun
pre·​cip·​i·​tate pri-ˈsip-ət-ət, -ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce precipitate (audio)
: a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid

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