English Reference
Idiom idiom

plant a seed

Meaning

To do something that will produce results or change in the future.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Examples
SIMPLE

“You plant a seed when you suggest a new idea to your boss.”

CONTEXTUAL

“By mentioning the benefits of remote work, she hoped to plant a seed in her manager's mind for future changes.”

COMPLEX

“The professor aimed to plant a seed of curiosity in his students, hoping they would eventually pursue deeper research on their own.”

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    eat one's seed corn

    To consume what is meant for investment instead.

  2. 02

    plant one's feet

    To insist on something firmly or with stubbornness.

  3. 03

    sow the seeds of

    To carry out a certain action which will eventually bring about a particular result.

  4. 04

    spill one's seed

    To ejaculate.

Last updated August 10, 2026