Cultivate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt/ cul·ti·vate

Meaning & Definition of Cultivate

Cultivate (verb)

  1. to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also, to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
  2. to foster the growth of
  3. culture

Cultivate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come to have gradually

    "cultivated a taste for opera in order to fit in with his new circle of friends"

    similar: acquire, develop, form
    related: absorb, adopt, embrace, take in, take on, gain, get, obtain, achieve, attain, reach, foster, nourish, nurture, promote
    opposite: lose
    near: abandon, desert, forsake, cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough, throw away, throw out, unload

  2. to help the growth or development of

    "cultivated a passion for learning among his students over the years"

    similar: advance, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promote
    related: advocate, back, champion, endorse, support, uphold, endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite, abet, aid, assist, advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout, agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)
    opposite: discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit
    near: ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe, battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose, repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, halt, retard, encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle

  3. to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care

    "in an attempt to produce New World counterparts of the wines that he had enjoyed in Europe, Jefferson cultivated several varieties of grapes at Monticello"

    similar: crop, culture, dress, grow, promote, raise, rear, tend
    related: breed, produce, propagate, plant, sow, gather, glean, harvest, reap, germinate, quicken, ripen, root, sprout
    near: kill, dig, extirpate, pick, pluck, pull (up), uproot, cut, hay, mow

  4. to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on

    "we ought to cultivate the field out back"

    similar: farm, tend, till
    related: crop, plant, harvest, reap, harrow, hoe, sharecrop

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cultivate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cultivate:

acquire, develop, form, advance, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promote, crop, culture, dress, grow, raise, rear, tend, farm, till

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cultivate

Words with the opposite meaning of Cultivate:

lose, discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

Related Words for Cultivate

absorb, adopt, embrace, take in, take on, gain, get, obtain, achieve, attain, reach, advocate, back, champion, endorse, support, uphold, endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite, abet, aid, assist, advertise, boost, plug

Near Antonyms of Cultivate

abandon, desert, forsake, cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough, throw away, throw out, unload, ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe, battle, combat, contend (with)

Word Forms of Cultivate

Inflections: cultivated, cultivating

Derived words: cultivatable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Cultivate

Medieval Latin cultivatus, past participle of cultivare, from cultivus cultivable, from Latin cultus, past participle of colere see cult

First known use: 1588

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cultivate

Frequently Asked Questions about Cultivate

What does "Cultivate" mean?

"Cultivate" means to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also, to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants). As a verb, it is defined as: to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also, to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants). It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cultivate"?

Other words for "Cultivate" include acquire, develop, form, advance, encourage, forward, foster and further. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cultivate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cultivate"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cultivate". Common alternatives include acquire, develop, form, advance, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate and nourish.

What is the opposite of "Cultivate"?

Antonyms of "Cultivate" include lose, discourage, frustrate, hinder and inhibit. Near antonyms include abandon, desert, forsake and cast.

How do you use "Cultivate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cultivate" in a sentence: "cultivated a taste for opera in order to fit in with his new circle of friends"; "cultivated a passion for learning among his students over the years"; "in an attempt to produce New World counterparts of the wines that he had enjoyed in Europe, Jefferson cultivated several varieties of grapes at Monticello".

Is "Cultivate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cultivate" is a verb.

Is "Cultivate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Cultivate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cultivate"?

"Cultivate" is pronounced /ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt/ and divided into syllables as cul·ti·vate.