ENGLISH
REFERENCE

penetrated

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɛnəˌtɹeɪtɪd// UK //pˈɛnɪtɹˌeɪtɪd// pen·e·trat·ed

v. to move into or through something, especially when it is difficult to get inside.

v. to succeed in forcing a way into or through a physical barrier or a complex system. Often used to describe physical entry, market expansion, or intellectual understanding.


SIMPLE

The rain penetrated his thick winter coat.

CONTEXTUAL

The company successfully penetrated the Asian market by adapting its products to local tastes.

COMPLEX

Sunlight barely penetrated the dense canopy of the ancient forest, leaving the ground in a state of perpetual twilight even at midday.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; it can describe physical, commercial, or metaphorical entry.

Pitfall

The water penetrated into the woodThe water penetrated the woodPenetrate is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition 'into' when describing physical entry.

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