Word
Definition
v. to work hard to develop a skill, a quality, or a relationship. It can also mean to prepare land and grow plants on it.
v. to foster the growth of something, such as a relationship, skill, or reputation, through deliberate effort. Also used in a literal sense to describe the preparation and use of land for crops.
Examples
“She works hard to cultivate a positive image at work.”
“The diplomat spent years trying to cultivate strong ties between the two neighboring countries.”
“Successful leaders often cultivate an environment where employees feel safe to share unconventional ideas without fear of immediate criticism.”
Examples
simple
“She works hard to cultivate a positive image at work.”
contextual
“The diplomat spent years trying to cultivate strong ties between the two neighboring countries.”
complex
“Successful leaders often cultivate an environment where employees feel safe to share unconventional ideas without fear of immediate criticism.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cultivate” in context.
Verb
01. cultivate a habit
“It is essential to cultivate the habit of reading daily if you want to expand your vocabulary.”
verb + noun
02. cultivate a relationship
“The diplomat spent years cultivating a relationship with the local leaders to ensure peace.”
verb + noun
03. cultivate a taste for
“She eventually cultivated a taste for jazz after attending several live performances.”
verb + noun + prep
04. cultivate an image
“The CEO worked hard to cultivate an image of being approachable and down-to-earth.”
verb + noun
05. cultivate the land
“The settlers worked tirelessly to cultivate the land and grow enough food for the winter.”
verb + noun
Adverb
06. actively cultivate
“The university actively cultivates partnerships with leading tech companies.”
adv + verb
07. carefully cultivate
“He carefully cultivated his reputation as a fair and honest judge over several decades.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. When used figuratively, it implies a slow, intentional process of development.
Real-World Examples
“Cultivating a siege mentality is an age-old tactic among managers of sports teams, but it’s fascinating to see how this works from the inside.” “When we dug deeper and tested whether these online spaces drive extremism directly, or only through the hostile gender attitudes they cultivate, nearly all of them lost their predictive power.” Etymology
From Medieval Latin cultivātus, perfect passive participle of cultivō (“till, cultivate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from cultīvus (“tilled”), from Latin cultus, perfect passive participle of colō (“till, cultivate”), which comes from earlier quelō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- (“to move; to turn (around)”). Cognates include Ancient Greek πέλω (pélō) and Sanskrit चरति (cárati). The same Proto-Indo-European root also gave Latin in-quil-īnus (“inhabitant”) and anculus (“servant”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cultivate
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0