penetrate

[pen-i-treyt] / ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪt /

VERB

pierce; get through physically

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crack drill enter go through infiltrate invade pass through permeate pervade puncture seep

STRONG

access bayonet bore charge come diffuse drive encroach force gore impale insert insinuate introduce jab knife percolate perforate prick probe ream saturate spear stab suffuse thrust trespass

WEAK

barge in blow in break in breeze in bust in eat through filter in get in ingress make a hole make an entrance pop in run into sink into stick into

Antonyms

STRONGEST

surrender yield

STRONG

retreat

WEAK

exit misconstrue misinterpret misunderstand take out withdraw

VERB

understand or be understood

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affect fathom get through touch

STRONG

comprehend decipher discern grasp impress perceive unravel

WEAK

become clear come across figure out get across get over get to the bottom put over see through sink in soak in work out

Antonyms

STRONG

misinterpret misunderstand neglect overlook

WEAK

exit misconstrue take out withdraw

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another idea is that heat penetrates beneath the surface, builds pressure, and eventually releases a shell of dust into space.

From Science Daily

‘Chuck Norris penetrated the internet as the internet was figuring out how to be something that took over the culture at large.’

From MarketWatch

Burning them releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particles that penetrate the lungs and bloodstream.

From BBC

And at last it penetrated my numbed brain that the emergency had come.

From Literature