generate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to cause something to exist, like an idea, a feeling, or a result.
to bring into existence or give rise to a state, emotion, or outcome.
Simple“The new marketing campaign helped generate a lot of interest in the product.”
In context“The proposed policy changes are expected to generate significant debate among committee members regarding long-term fiscal responsibility.”
UsageOften used with abstract nouns like 'interest', 'excitement', 'revenue', or 'debate'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to produce a form of energy, such as electricity or heat.
to produce energy or a substance through a physical or chemical process.
Simple“Wind turbines generate electricity by using the power of the wind.”
In context“The nuclear reactor generates enough thermal energy to power the entire coastal region during peak winter months.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to use a computer program to create something automatically.
to create data, images, or code through the application of an algorithm or program.
Simple“The website can generate a random password for your new account.”
In context“The software uses a complex algorithm to generate realistic terrain for the video game environment.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
to form a shape by moving a line or a curve in space.
to trace or form a geometric figure through the motion of a point, line, or surface.
Simple“A cylinder is generated when you rotate a rectangle around one of its sides.”
In context“Rotating a circle around an external axis generates a torus, a surface frequently studied in topology.”
Usage generate new · generate enough · generate significant
“Today, the outsourcing industry employs roughly 1.9 million people, and generates $40bn (£30.1bn) in revenues every year, accounting for about 10% of the Philippines' economy.”
“Sticking to cold foods such as salads - especially during the hottest times of the day - can stop unnecessary heat being generated.”
From Latin generō (“beget, procreate, produce”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), from genus (“a kind, race, family”, gener- in compounds) + -ō; see genus. Compare Italian generare, French générer (and its older (and now obsolete) English cognate from Middle French, gender (“engender, breed, copulate”)).
Learned borrowing from Latin generātus, perfect passive participle of generō (“beget, procreate, produce”). See Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.