sprouted; sprouting; sprouts
1
: to grow, spring up, or come forth as or as if a sprout
2
: to send out new growth
: to send forth or up : cause to develop : grow
1
a
: shoot sense 1a
especially
: a young shoot (as from a seed or root)
b
sprouts plural
(1)
chiefly British
: brussels sprout sense 2
(2)
: edible sprouts especially from recently germinated seeds (as of alfalfa or mung beans)
2
Synonyms
Examples of sprout in a Sentence
Verb
seeds sprouting in the spring
Potatoes will sprout in the bag if kept in a warm place.
The garden is sprouting weeds.
The tree is already sprouting leaves.
He sprouted a beard since the last time I saw him.
She dreamed that her boss had sprouted horns.
Hair sprouted on his face.
Noun
he earned the admiration of the neighborhood sprouts when he showed them how to make a slingshot
the raspberry bushes began sending out sprouts in early spring
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
Since recreational marijuana became legal in July, some Prince George’s officials have heaved about the prospect of dispensaries sprouting up around the county, especially in areas where smoke and liquor shops are more plentiful than grocery stores and playgrounds.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The idea sprouted while Pinter, 43, was pregnant with the couple’s fourth child, daughter Goldie Patricia.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Why? April 5, 2024 When the flowers blossomed in 2019, a debate sprouted among airport officials and native plant experts over whether the flowers sprang up on their own or were planted.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Dandelion flowers sprout from the cracks in the pavement, and the property looks like a prairie dotted with the yellow weed.
—Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Since their beginnings in the 1950s, dollar stores have mushroomed across the U.S., sprouting up in urban and rural communities alike.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
The organization sprouted from an incognito Facebook account known as Lily Waterfield that was meant to hold leaders accountable and acknowledge opportunities to improve the community.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
With 65,000 five-star reviews, customers praise Sky Organics’ castor oil for its ability to strengthen strands, sprout new growth, and retain length.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 10 Apr. 2024
Greens like kale and Brussels sprouts have had a similar time in the spotlight, for example.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024
Recipe: Creamed Spinach Recipe: Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken-Spinach Pasta Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be ridiculously expensive, especially when not in season.
—Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
Plants have more time to bloom and sprout leaves, releasing allergy-inducing pollen when there are longer periods of freeze-free days.
—Daniel Peck, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024
Often, the best help is the kind that sprouts organically from within the local community itself.
—Hannah Fish, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024
Her outfit—look 10 from the show—was affixed with all the bells and whistles: a lightweight, layered peplum that extended into a train, white embellishments on the bodice, and 3D sprouts emerging from the peplum and train.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
Crispy, smoky sprouts contrast beautifully with sweet tangles of jammy caramelized onions.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024
In a large bowl, add the Brussels sprouts and toss well with all the other ingredients, minus the butter.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 30 Jan. 2024
Verb
The microgreens sprouted shockingly quickly, within 24 hours of being planted.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
Since recreational marijuana became legal in July, some Prince George’s officials have heaved about the prospect of dispensaries sprouting up around the county, especially in areas where smoke and liquor shops are more plentiful than grocery stores and playgrounds.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The idea sprouted while Pinter, 43, was pregnant with the couple’s fourth child, daughter Goldie Patricia.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Why? April 5, 2024 When the flowers blossomed in 2019, a debate sprouted among airport officials and native plant experts over whether the flowers sprang up on their own or were planted.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Dandelion flowers sprout from the cracks in the pavement, and the property looks like a prairie dotted with the yellow weed.
—Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Since their beginnings in the 1950s, dollar stores have mushroomed across the U.S., sprouting up in urban and rural communities alike.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
The organization sprouted from an incognito Facebook account known as Lily Waterfield that was meant to hold leaders accountable and acknowledge opportunities to improve the community.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
With 65,000 five-star reviews, customers praise Sky Organics’ castor oil for its ability to strengthen strands, sprout new growth, and retain length.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
This daily-use tranexamic acid serum also contains skin-brightening niacinamide and antioxidant-rich lotus sprout extract, which conditions and plumps skin while boosting natural luminance.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 10 Apr. 2024
Greens like kale and Brussels sprouts have had a similar time in the spotlight, for example.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024
Recipe: Creamed Spinach Recipe: Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken-Spinach Pasta Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be ridiculously expensive, especially when not in season.
—Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
Plants have more time to bloom and sprout leaves, releasing allergy-inducing pollen when there are longer periods of freeze-free days.
—Daniel Peck, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024
Often, the best help is the kind that sprouts organically from within the local community itself.
—Hannah Fish, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024
Her outfit—look 10 from the show—was affixed with all the bells and whistles: a lightweight, layered peplum that extended into a train, white embellishments on the bodice, and 3D sprouts emerging from the peplum and train.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
Crispy, smoky sprouts contrast beautifully with sweet tangles of jammy caramelized onions.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024
In a large bowl, add the Brussels sprouts and toss well with all the other ingredients, minus the butter.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 30 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sprout
Cite this Entry
“Sprout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprout. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sprout
2 of 2 noun1
a
: shoot entry 2 sense 1a
especially
: a young shoot (as from a seed or root)
2
plural
: edible young shoots especially from recently germinated seeds (as of alfalfa)
Medical Definition
sprout
2 of 2 noun
: a new outgrowth (as of nerve tissue) resembling the young shoot of a plant
segments of the axon above the injury … produce new sprouts—J. L. Marx
J. L. MarxLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share