penetrate
/ˈpɛnɪtɹeɪt/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: penetrates · penetrating · penetrated
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to pierce.
Verb
Examples
Light penetrates darkness.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To achieve understanding of, despite some obstacle; to comprehend; to understand.
Verb
Examples
I could not penetrate Burke's opaque rhetoric.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “penetrate” mean?
To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to pierce.
Is “penetrate” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.