English Reference

Word

urinate

Phoneticsuri·nate

US/ˈjɝəˌneɪt/

UK/jˈɔːɹɪnˌeɪt/

Definition

v. to pass urine from your body. It is a more formal or medical way to say you are going to the bathroom to pee.

v. to discharge urine from the body. Often used in medical or formal contexts to describe the physiological process of excretion.

Examples

“The doctor asked him to urinate in a clean cup.”

“After drinking several glasses of water, the patient felt the need to urinate more frequently than usual.”

“The study monitored how often participants urinated throughout the day to determine the effectiveness of the new hydration protocol.”

Examples

simple

“The doctor asked him to urinate in a clean cup.”

contextual

“After drinking several glasses of water, the patient felt the need to urinate more frequently than usual.”

complex

“The study monitored how often participants urinated throughout the day to determine the effectiveness of the new hydration protocol.”

Real-World Examples

“Marie-Hélène says she had no choice but to urinate in public.”
BBC News 19 Aug 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin urinātus, perfect passive participle of urinō (“urinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), equivalent to urine + -ate. Compare French uriner.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

urinate(B2)

ADJECTIVE

This entry

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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