to precipitate
- verb
- /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
- 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.
- What really precipitated the acute phase was back squats.
- You essentially, you spoke up about your needs and that precipitated the breakup.
- And so you, you know, you, you end up precipitating the very thing you're most afraid of because it's, that's your wall.
- Well, what's remarkable is when you look at this, Steven, President Putin has managed to precipitate everything he sought to prevent.
- Did the knowledge of Harry Selden's thoughts and plans precipitate the end of the Galactic Empire sooner than it otherwise would have?
- I think this is such an important concept and you, all of you have helped to lead to this point because your comments, your debate have precipitated this conversation.
- Often a psychic breakdown can be a can precipitate change, transition, awakening.
Examples
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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.
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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.
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Texas joined the American union, and its border dispute with Mexico precipitated the Mexican War.
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You essentially, you spoke up about your needs and that precipitated the breakup.
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Is it safe to say that this infidelity precipitated the divorce?
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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
Cause a process, event, or feeling to start
To cause something to start, often an idea or strong feeling
Make an event or strong reaction start suddenly
To cause something to start suddenly
Something that causes a sudden, unexpected event or change
Antonyms
How Sudden
Surface Forms
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.