# originate

/ɝˈɪdʒəˌneɪt/ (US) · /əɹˈɪdʒɪnˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/originate
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

to start or be created in a specific place or situation. You use this to talk about where an idea, a product, or a custom first began.

For teachers: to have a specified beginning or to arise from a particular source. Often used to trace the historical or geographical roots of a concept, object, or biological entity.

## Examples

- Many English words originate from Latin.
- The tradition of decorating trees for the holidays is thought to originate from 16th-century Germany.
- While the virus was first identified in the capital, researchers believe it may actually originate from a remote rural province where human-animal contact is more frequent.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The idea was originated in London" but "The idea originated in London" — Learners often use 'originate' in the passive voice, but it is typically used in the active voice to describe where something began.

## Usage notes

- The verb is often used with the preposition 'in' or 'from'. It can be used intransitively or transitively, though the intransitive use is more common in general writing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.