Dictionary entry details
• PENETRATE (verb)
Meaning:
Pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
penetrate; perforate
Context example:
The bullet penetrated her chest
Hypernyms (to "penetrate" is one way to...):
come in; enter; get in; get into; go in; go into; move into (to come or go into)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "penetrate"):
dig into; poke into; probe (examine physically with or as if with a probe)
pierce; thrust (penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument)
pierce (cut or make a way through)
tunnel (force a way through)
filter; percolate; permeate; sink in (pass through)
grain; ingrain (thoroughly work in)
immerse; plunge (thrust or throw into)
force; storm (take by force)
ooze through (run slowly and gradually)
pierce (make a hole into)
honeycomb (penetrate thoroughly and into every part)
cut (penetrate injuriously)
interpenetrate; permeate (penetrate mutually or be interlocked)
strike (pierce with force)
break (pierce or penetrate)
foray (briefly enter enemy territory)
poke into (enter briefly)
creep in; sneak in (enter surreptitiously)
diffuse; imbue; interpenetrate; penetrate; permeate; pervade; riddle (spread or diffuse through)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Come to understand
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
fathom; penetrate; bottom
Hypernyms (to "penetrate" is one way to...):
understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Meaning:
Become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
come home; dawn; fall into place; sink in; get across; penetrate; get through; click
Context examples:
It dawned on him that she had betrayed him / she was penetrated with sorrow
Cause:
understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
infiltrate; penetrate
Context example:
The student organization was infiltrated by a traitor
Hypernyms (to "penetrate" is one way to...):
fall in; get together; join (become part of; become a member of a group or organization)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Make one's way deeper into or through
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest
Hypernyms (to "penetrate" is one way to...):
advance; go on; march on; move on; pass on; progress (move forward, also in the metaphorical sense)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Insert the penis into the vagina or anus of
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
Did the molester penetrate the child?
Hypernyms (to "penetrate" is one way to...):
enter; infix; insert; introduce (put or introduce into something)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Spread or diffuse through
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
pervade; imbue; permeate; diffuse; interpenetrate; riddle; penetrate
Context examples:
An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration / music penetrated the entire building / His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks
Hypernyms (to "penetrate" is one way to...):
penetrate; perforate (pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "penetrate"):
spiritise; spiritize (imbue with a spirit)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
