penetrate

[pen-i-treyt]

verb (used with object)

penetrated, penetrating 

1. to pierce or pass into or through.

   The bullet penetrated the wall. The fog lights penetrated the mist.

2. to enter the interior of.

   to penetrate a forest.

3. to enter and diffuse itself through; permeate.

4. to arrive at the truth or meaning of; understand; comprehend.

   to penetrate a mystery.

   Synonyms: discern, fathom

5. to obtain a share of (a market).

   to penetrate the Canadian coffee market.

6. to affect or impress (the mind or feelings) deeply.

   Synonyms: touch

7. to extend influence, usually peacefully, into the affairs of (another country).

verb (used without object)

penetrated, penetrating 

1. to enter, reach, or pass through something, as by piercing.

   We penetrated to the interior of the Kasbah.

2. to be diffused through something.

3. to understand or read the meaning of something.

4. to have a deep effect or impact on someone.

penetrate

/ ˈpɛnɪˌtreɪt /

verb

1. to find or force a way into or through (something); pierce; enter

2. to diffuse through (a substance); permeate

3. (tr) to see through

   their eyes could not penetrate the fog

4. (tr) (of a man) to insert the penis into the vagina of (a woman)

5. (tr) to grasp the meaning of (a principle, etc)

6. (intr) to be understood

   his face lit up as the new idea penetrated

Other Word Forms

• penetrator noun
• prepenetrate verb (used with object)
• unpenetrated adjective
• penetrably adverb
• penetrative adjective
• penetrable adjective
• penetrability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penetrate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin penetrātus “entered the interior of,” past participle of penetrāre “to enter the interior of,” from penet-, variant stem of penitus “deep down” + -āre, infinitive verb suffix, with the vowel change and addition of -r- probably by analogy with intus “inside,” intrāre “to enter” ( enter ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of penetrate¹

C16: from Latin penetrāre; related to penitus inner, and penus the interior of a house

Synonym Study

See pierce.

Example Sentences

He’s been drilling holes in the concrete walls with the large red contraption, which comes with a small attached vacuum that sucks up concrete dust as it penetrates the wall.

From Los Angeles Times

The forwards made a couple of early entries into Japan's 22 but could not penetrate so it fell to the backs to conjure up something creative.

From BBC

He said the "needle probably penetrated the liver" of Baby O, and "probably accelerated his demise".

From BBC

But over the last few decades, as blazes penetrate deeper into cities, he’s dealing with a different kind of problem: urban conflagrations.

From Los Angeles Times

The number of Russian munitions penetrating Ukrainian air defences appears to be increasing, with explosions around the capital Kyiv becoming a daily part of life for residents of the city.

From BBC

Related Words

• crack 
• drill 
• enter 
• go through 
• infiltrate 
• invade 
• pass through 
• permeate 
• pervade 
• puncture 
• seep