# proliferate

/pɹoʊˈɫɪfɝˌeɪt/ (US) · /pɹəlˈɪfəɹˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/proliferate
Updated: 2026-10-12

## Definition

to increase in number or spread very quickly. You use this when something, like a new technology or a type of plant, starts appearing everywhere.

For teachers: to increase rapidly in number or multiply; to reproduce or spread at a high rate. Often describes the rapid expansion of cells, ideas, or technologies.

## Examples

- Small coffee shops began to proliferate across the city last year.
- As internet access became cheaper, online streaming services began to proliferate, fundamentally changing how people consume media.
- In the absence of natural predators, the invasive species began to proliferate at an alarming rate, threatening the delicate balance of the local ecosystem.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

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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.