seed 1 of 2

noun

ˈsēd How to pronounce seed (audio)
Definition of seednext
1
as in root
the source from which something grows or develops ancient Greece provided the seed for much of Western civilization's political and philosophical thought

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in offspring
the descendants of a person, animal, or plant the famous stallion's seed can be found on racetracks all over the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seed

2 of 2

verb

as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow seeded grass in the backyard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of seed
Noun
After top seed Minnesota was upset in the first round, the Valkyries now have home court throughout the postseason. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Others need the heat of a fire to release their seeds, while many others don’t, Young said. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
Drugs that would otherwise have moved on stayed in Fiji, seeding this domestic market which didn't really exist before. — David Cox, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026 Fever fans were also watching the Lynx matchup for playoff seeding purposes. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seed
  1. root
  2. offspring
  3. plant
  4. origin
  5. fruit
  6. germ
  7. beginning
Noun
  • Before looking at groundwater, the team tested similar sensors to guide breast cancer surgery and to image root systems in plant biology.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Vest’s campus roots Ma, 25, became interested in crypto derivatives while studying finance and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • These males with less going for them then pass on their less desirable traits, which could have negative consequences for the offspring.
    — Claire Therese Hemingway, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The pandas and their offspring belong to China, where they’re expected to eventually return.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of offspring
Verb
  • But the seeds are planted quickly for weightier themes to be explored later.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Just south of Champaign along I-57, IDOT removed invasive autumn olive shrubs and planted purple coneflower, bee balm and milkweed.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of plant
Noun
  • Its origin is as a thalassotherapy spa, and indeed the jet sprays and salt water baths with water straight from the Mediterranean are both invigorating and restorative.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In 2024, the sound of camel bells across the desert led visitors back to the Yellow River basin, introducing Songmont’s origins and roots.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of origin
Noun
  • Today, the resort’s Kuilima Farm grows many of the same fruits and vegetables that were cultivated as part of the traditional ahupua’a.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The partners plan to develop 20 pilot projects over the next two to three years, supporting sustainable fishing, agriculture and fruit-processing businesses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of fruit
Noun
  • PhoneSoap Basic kills up to 99% of germs in 10-minute sessions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The germ of this idea was already latent in the first shot of Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), which shows a lo-fi close-up of Cage doing a terrible Australian accent in a TV commercial for VCRs.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of germ
Noun
  • Novelty is also being rewarded, and that is something Abundantia has factored in from the beginning.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The cutting edge facade is just the beginning of the sophisticated design of the hotel, both inside and out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of beginning

Phrases Containing seed

Browse Nearby Words

see after
seed
seedbed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seed. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on seed

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seed

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All