proliferate
gb/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/ us/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
C1
Inglês
Acepções
0 acepção
Verbo
C1
process
1
increase rapidly in number
If something proliferates, it increases very fast or spreads to many places.
Padrão de uso:
[things] proliferate (in/around/throughout/across [place])
Erro comum:
Often used intransitively ("problems proliferated"); learners sometimes force a direct object where "spread" or "increase" would be more natural.
Sinônimos
spread (Emphasizes reaching more places or people.)
|
multiply (Emphasizes becoming more numerous.)
|
mushroom (Suggests sudden, often surprising growth.)
|
increase (More general and less vivid.)
Antônimos
decline (Become fewer or less common over time.)
|
dwindle (Decrease gradually to a small number.)
|
die out (Disappear completely after declining.)
Colocações
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
Temas
society
|business
|technology
|media
|science
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- In spring, weeds proliferate in the garden.
- Rumors proliferated after the announcement.
Verbo
technical
C2
process
2
cells multiply and grow
In biology, if cells proliferate, they make more cells and increase in number.
Padrão de uso:
[cells/tissue] proliferate (in [place/conditions])
Erro comum:
In medical contexts, "proliferate" does not mean "spread to other organs" (that is often described as "metastasize").
Sinônimos
multiply (Common general word for increasing in number.)
|
divide (Highlights the mechanism of cell division.)
Antônimos
differentiate (In cell biology, stop dividing and become specialized.)
|
degenerate (Deteriorate rather than grow.)
Colocações
cells proliferate
|tumor cells proliferate
|proliferate in culture
|proliferate rapidly
|proliferate uncontrollably
|proliferate in response to signals
|proliferate under stress
Temas
biology
|medicine
|health
|science
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The cells proliferated in the lab dish.
Verbo
formal
C2
action
3
cause something to increase fast
To proliferate something is to make it increase or spread quickly.
Padrão de uso:
[someone/something] proliferates [something]
Erro comum:
This transitive use is much less common than the intransitive one; in everyday English, people often prefer "spread" or "increase" instead.
Sinônimos
spread (More common; focuses on distribution rather than sheer increase.)
|
fuel (Suggests helping something grow indirectly.)
|
promote (Suggests actively encouraging growth or adoption.)
Antônimos
curb (Act to limit growth or spread.)
|
contain (Keep from spreading beyond limits.)
|
reduce (Make the amount or number smaller.)
Colocações
proliferate myths
|proliferate misinformation
|proliferate copies
|proliferate weapons
|proliferate content
|proliferate opportunities
Temas
business
|politics
|media
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para estudantes
- The new app helped proliferate fake reviews.
Gramática
Forma no dicionário
proliferate
AFI
GB/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
US/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
Sílabas e tonicidade
pro - lif - er - ate (4 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lif)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: proliferate
- 3rd Person Singular: proliferates
- Present Participle: proliferating
- Past: proliferated
Família de palavras
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
Expressões
proliferate like rabbits
1/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt lˈaɪk ɹˈæbɪts/
idiom
informal
increase very quickly in number
To grow in number very fast.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- The rumor proliferated like wildfire after the video was posted.
- During the outage, incorrect instructions proliferated like wildfire in group chats.