proliferate
gb/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/ us/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
C1
Englisch
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
Verb
C1
process
1
increase rapidly in number
If something proliferates, it increases very fast or spreads to many places.
Verwendungsmuster:
[things] proliferate (in/around/throughout/across [place])
Häufiger Fehler:
Often used intransitively ("problems proliferated"); learners sometimes force a direct object where "spread" or "increase" would be more natural.
Synonyme
spread (Emphasizes reaching more places or people.)
|
multiply (Emphasizes becoming more numerous.)
|
mushroom (Suggests sudden, often surprising growth.)
|
increase (More general and less vivid.)
Antonyme
decline (Become fewer or less common over time.)
|
dwindle (Decrease gradually to a small number.)
|
die out (Disappear completely after declining.)
Wortverbindungen
proliferate rapidly
|proliferate quickly
|proliferate across the country
|proliferate throughout the city
|proliferate online
|proliferate on social media
|proliferate in recent years
|proliferate in number
|proliferate in the market
|proliferate in response to demand
Themen
society
|business
|technology
|media
|science
Beispiele
- Cheap imitations began to proliferate online within weeks of the product launch.
- As the city expanded, informal settlements proliferated on the outskirts.
- Misinformation can proliferate quickly during a crisis.
Beispiele für Lernende
- In spring, weeds proliferate in the garden.
- Rumors proliferated after the announcement.
Verb
technical
C2
process
2
cells multiply and grow
In biology, if cells proliferate, they make more cells and increase in number.
Verwendungsmuster:
[cells/tissue] proliferate (in [place/conditions])
Häufiger Fehler:
In medical contexts, "proliferate" does not mean "spread to other organs" (that is often described as "metastasize").
Synonyme
multiply (Common general word for increasing in number.)
|
divide (Highlights the mechanism of cell division.)
Antonyme
differentiate (In cell biology, stop dividing and become specialized.)
|
degenerate (Deteriorate rather than grow.)
Wortverbindungen
cells proliferate
|tumor cells proliferate
|proliferate in culture
|proliferate rapidly
|proliferate uncontrollably
|proliferate in response to signals
|proliferate under stress
Themen
biology
|medicine
|health
|science
Beispiele
- Under the microscope, the cells proliferated steadily over several days.
- The drug is designed to stop cancer cells from proliferating.
- In damaged tissue, new cells proliferate to repair the wound.
Beispiele für Lernende
- The cells proliferated in the lab dish.
Verb
formal
C2
action
3
cause something to increase fast
To proliferate something is to make it increase or spread quickly.
Verwendungsmuster:
[someone/something] proliferates [something]
Häufiger Fehler:
This transitive use is much less common than the intransitive one; in everyday English, people often prefer "spread" or "increase" instead.
Synonyme
spread (More common; focuses on distribution rather than sheer increase.)
|
fuel (Suggests helping something grow indirectly.)
|
promote (Suggests actively encouraging growth or adoption.)
Antonyme
curb (Act to limit growth or spread.)
|
contain (Keep from spreading beyond limits.)
|
reduce (Make the amount or number smaller.)
Wortverbindungen
proliferate myths
|proliferate misinformation
|proliferate copies
|proliferate weapons
|proliferate content
|proliferate opportunities
Themen
business
|politics
|media
Beispiele
- The platform’s design can unintentionally proliferate false stories.
- Officials introduced new rules to prevent companies from proliferating risky financial products.
- Cheap printing helped proliferate political pamphlets across the region.
Beispiele für Lernende
- The new app helped proliferate fake reviews.
Grammatik
Grundform
proliferate
IPA
GB/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
US/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
Silben & Betonung
pro - lif - er - ate (4 Silben)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lif)
Wortformen
Verb
- Base: proliferate
- 3rd Person Singular: proliferates
- Present Participle: proliferating
- Past: proliferated
Wortfamilie
Forms
proliferates
verb
proliferating
verb
proliferated
verb
Core family
proliferation
noun C1
Related words
prolific
adjective C1
prolifically
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
nonproliferation
noun C2
Advanced or less common
proliferative
adjective
antiproliferative
adjective
Ausdrücke
proliferate like rabbits
1/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt lˈaɪk ɹˈæbɪts/
idiom
informal
increase very quickly in number
To grow in number very fast.
Beispiele
- In the warm weather, mosquitoes proliferate like rabbits near the lake.
- Once the discount code leaked, copycat websites proliferated like rabbits.
proliferate like wildfire
1/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt lˈaɪk wˈaɪldfˌaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
spread extremely quickly
To spread very fast.
Beispiele
- The rumor proliferated like wildfire after the video was posted.
- During the outage, incorrect instructions proliferated like wildfire in group chats.