penetrate

verb
UK: /ˈpenɪtreɪt/
US: /ˈpenɪtreɪt/

  1. To enter or pass through something.

    1. The knife can penetrate the cardboard.
    2. Sunlight can penetrate through the dense forest canopy, creating dappled shadows.

  2. To succeed in forcing a way into or through something despite resistance.

    1. The burglar managed to penetrate the house's security.
    2. The company is trying to penetrate new markets with its innovative product line.

  3. To understand or discover something that is difficult to understand or is hidden.

    1. I couldn't penetrate his complex mind.
    2. Analysts are struggling to penetrate the reasons behind the sudden market crash.

Synonyms

pierce fathom perforate grasp infiltrate comprehend permeate
penetrate transitive-verb

  1. To spread through (something).

    1. The scent began to penetrate the room.
    2. The new ideas began to penetrate the organization, leading to changes.
penetrate intransitive-verb

  1. To be understood or realized.

    1. The truth began to penetrate slowly.
    2. It took a while for the seriousness of the situation to penetrate their minds.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "penetrate" in English means: To enter or pass through something., To succeed in forcing a way into or through something despite resistance., To understand or discover something that is difficult to understand or is hidden..

The phonetic transcription of "penetrate" is /ˈpenɪtreɪt/ in British English and /ˈpenɪtreɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "penetrate": pierce, fathom, perforate, grasp, infiltrate, comprehend, permeate.

Example usage of "penetrate": "The knife can penetrate the cardboard.". More examples on the page.