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to precipitate

to precipitate

31 7.5
To cause something to happen suddenly before it was expected
  • verb
  • /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
translation icon : precipitar
  • Two factors in the first half of the 1970s precipitated its unprecedented growth.
  • precipitate a crisis
  • precipitate a change
  • precipitate a conflict

What really precipitated the acute phase was back squats.

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Examples

  • Paradoxically, it was the 1968 student uprising that precipitated the Americanization of the French university.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Lina's suspicion of Johnnie's murderous intent is precipitated by the death of her father.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Before you even go in, make sure that you know, yes, this conversation could precipitate the end of this relationship.

  • But to say how they might precipitate murder, well, I'm simply at a loss.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • But five months after Labour came to power, the Wall Street crash precipitated A worldwide economic crisis.

  • Texas joined the American union, and its border dispute with Mexico precipitated the Mexican War.

  • You essentially, you spoke up about your needs and that precipitated the breakup.

  • Is it safe to say that this infidelity precipitated the divorce?

  • Half a century ago, the launch of Sputnik precipitated major educational reform across all of education.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The sudden downturn in the market could precipitate a recession if it continues.

Synonyms

to induce
vsto precipitate
168 5.3

Cause a process, event, or feeling to start

causes things suddenly or earlier than expected rather than gradually
to spark
vsto precipitate
154 3.4

To cause something to start, often an idea or strong feeling

brings things about suddenly and sometimes earlier than expected
to touch off
vsto precipitate
  • US
15 7.4

Make an event or strong reaction start suddenly

causes things suddenly and often earlier than expected rather than generally
to trigger off
vsto precipitate
  • UK
1 5.1

To cause something to start suddenly

acts to bring things on suddenly and often before expected time
precipitating
vsto precipitate
  • Formal
6.7

Something that causes a sudden, unexpected event or change

has the same sudden meaning but differs by word form

Antonyms

562 1.4

To make something happen later than planned

How Sudden

to catapult
28 5.1
to precipitate
31 7.5
trigger
100 3.4
to bring about
203 3.0
to cause
1.0

Surface Forms

precipitate infinitive
precipitated past participle
precipitating present participle
precipitates third person singular

Morphology

precipitate = precipit + ate

The sense 'to cause something to happen suddenly' is an extended, metaphorical use of the Latin-derived stem plus '-ate'; this connection is not transparently recoverable by learners from the surface parts alone.

Etymology

Precipitate comes from Latin parts prae- 'before' and caput 'head', giving the image of a 'headlong' fall. That is why to precipitate an event means to cause it to happen suddenly or quickly.