Migrate Meaning
/maɪˈɡɹeɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo relocate periodically from one region to another, usually according to the seasons.
verbTo change one's geographic pattern of habitation.
Sentence Examples
Swallows migrate to a warm climate.
Why do birds migrate in the first place?
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many species of birds ____ to warmer regions when the cold winter arrives.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Every winter, many species of birds ____ thousands of miles to warmer southern climates to avoid the harsh local freezing temperatures.
Word Origin & History
First attested in 1623; borrowed from Latin migrātus, perfect passive participle of migrō (“to migrate, change, transport”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Little is more extraordinary than the decision to migrate, little more extraordinary than the accumulation of emotions and thoughts which finally leads a family to say farewell to a community where it has lived for centuries, to abandon old ties and familiar landmarks, and to sail across dark seas to a strange land."
— 1964, John F. Kennedy, “Why They Came”, in A Nation of Immigrants, Revised and Enlarged edition, Harper & Row, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 4:
"It is very common for the position of the placenta to change as the uterus stretches and grows. An anterior placenta can migrate toward the top, sides, or back of the uterus as the weeks go on."
— 2022 August 13, Donna Murray, “What Is an Anterior Placenta? How placenta placement affects pregnancy, labor, and delivery”, in verywellfamily, archived from the original on 09 Nov 2023:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Many species of birds ____ to warmer regions when the cold winter arrives.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Every winter, many species of birds ____ thousands of miles to warmer southern climates to avoid the harsh local freezing temperatures.