Word
immigrate
Phoneticsim·mi·grate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪməˌɡɹeɪt/
UK/ˈɪmɪɡɹˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to move to a different country to live there for a long time. You use this when you talk about coming into the new country.
v. to enter and settle permanently in a country other than one's native country. Contrasted with 'emigrate', which frames the same movement from the point of departure.
Examples
“Many families immigrate to Canada for better jobs.”
“After finishing her degree, she hopes to immigrate to Australia and join her sister in Melbourne.”
“Although her parents had immigrated decades earlier, she still felt a strong connection to their stories of leaving home and starting again.”
Examples
simple
“Many families immigrate to Canada for better jobs.”
contextual
“After finishing her degree, she hopes to immigrate to Australia and join her sister in Melbourne.”
complex
“Although her parents had immigrated decades earlier, she still felt a strong connection to their stories of leaving home and starting again.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “immigrate” in context.
Verb
01. choose to immigrate
“Many young professionals choose to immigrate for better career prospects.”
verb + to + verb
02. decide to immigrate
“They decided to immigrate to New Zealand for a better quality of life.”
verb + to + verb
03. family immigrate
“His whole family immigrated last year to join relatives abroad.”
noun + verb
04. immigrate from
“He immigrated from Vietnam as a child with his parents.”
verb + prep
05. immigrate to
“My grandparents immigrated to Britain in the 1960s to find work.”
verb + prep
06. manage to immigrate
“After years of waiting, she finally managed to immigrate to the US.”
verb + to + verb
Adjective
07. illegally immigrate
“He tried to illegally immigrate and was sent back at the border.”
adv + verb
08. legally immigrate
“They were able to legally immigrate to Canada through a skilled worker visa.”
adv + verb
Noun
09. decision to immigrate
“Their decision to immigrate was motivated by education for their children.”
noun + to + verb
10. be eligible to immigrate
“You may be eligible to immigrate if you have a valid job offer.”
11. immigrate in search of work
“Thousands of people immigrate in search of work every year.”
12. immigrate to a new country
“Learning the language is the hardest part when you immigrate to a new country.”
Usage
Takes the preposition 'to' for the destination country; contrasted with 'emigrate from' for the country left.
Pitfall
They emigrated to Canada in 2010
They immigrated to Canada in 2010
'Immigrate to' means to enter a new country; 'emigrate from' means to leave one's own country.
Confusables
Emigrate is the act of leaving a country; immigrate is the act of entering a new one.
RememberEmigrate = Exit. Immigrate = In.
Real-World Examples
“More than 2 million East European Jews immigrated to the United States from 1881-1924, and most opted to settle down in the Northeast.” “During the California gold rush (1849–1860), large numbers of Chinese immigrated to North America .” “Between 1881 and 1920, over 4.5 million Italians immigrated to America.” “The judge at the murder trial lambasted the Shafia family and said the murders were driven by the clan’s “twisted concept of honour.” The family immigrated to Canada from Afghanistan and settled in Montreal.” Etymology
From Latin immigratus, past participle of immigro (“remove, move into”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/immigrate