migrate

Pronunciation: /maɪˈɡreɪt/

verb

Difficulty: common

Definition of migrate

To move from one location, region, or habitat to another, often for the purposes of living, working, or survival, especially in response to environmental, economic, or seasonal factors.

Origin of migrate

Language of origin: Latin

Root word: migrāre

Original meaning: to move, to change one’s abode

How it evolved: Originally used to describe physical relocation, it expanded to metaphorical uses, such as data or ideas transferring from one place to another.

The word 'migrate' originated from Latin, entering English in the late Middle Ages, and has evolved to describe movement for survival, work, or better living conditions.

First known use: 15th century

How to Remember migrate

Imagine a flock of birds flying together in formation, 'migrating' to a new location—'move' + 'gratefully' = migrate.

Synonyms for migrate

Antonyms of migrate

migrate in a Sentence

  1. Each autumn, millions of birds migrate southward to escape the harsh northern winters and find abundant food sources.
  2. Faced with dwindling economic opportunities, many families decided to migrate to urban areas in search of better prospects.
  3. The ancient nomadic tribes would migrate across vast deserts, following the seasonal availability of water and grazing lands.

migrate in Literature & Culture

The concept of migration is a recurring theme in literature, such as in Maya Angelou's poetry, which often explores the idea of movement—physical, emotional, or generational—as a metaphor for resilience and transformation.

Usage Notes

While 'migrate' often refers to animals or groups moving due to natural or economic reasons, its usage for individuals or digital data has grown in modern contexts. Avoid confusing it with 'immigrate,' which specifically refers to entering a new country to live permanently.

Why migrate Matters for GRE & SAT

The GRE often tests 'migrate' and its derivatives in reading comprehension passages about historical movements, ecological phenomena, or social trends, making familiarity with its nuances essential.

Word Family

migration (noun)
The act or process of moving from one place to another.
migratory (adjective)
Relating to or characterized by migration.
migrant (noun)
A person or animal that migrates.

Did You Know?

  • The term 'migration' is widely used in technology to describe data or system transfers, such as 'cloud migration.'
  • The longest migration of any animal is undertaken by the Arctic Tern, which travels over 40,000 miles annually between the Arctic and Antarctic.
  • John Steinbeck's novel 'The Grapes of Wrath' vividly portrays the migration of Dust Bowl families seeking a better life during the Great Depression.
  • transient
  • Mendacious — Not telling the truth; lying or dishonest.
  • macabre — having a quality of horror or grimness
  • magisterial — possessing great authority
  • magnanimous — noble and generous in spirit
  • magnify — To make something appear larger than it is; to intensify
  • maintain — To continue to have or keep something in existence

More Vocabulary Words Starting with M

  • Mendacious — Not telling the truth; lying or dishonest.
  • macabre — having a quality of horror or grimness
  • macabre — having a quality of horror or grimness
  • magisterial — possessing great authority
  • magisterial — possessing great authority
  • magnanimous — noble and generous in spirit
  • magnanimous — noble and generous in spirit
  • magnify — To make something appear larger than it is; to intensify
  • magnify — To make something appear larger than it is; to intensify
  • maintain — To continue to have or keep something in existence