migrate

migrate — verb

1. When animals such as birds, fish, or insects travel as a group from one region t

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

When animals such as birds, fish, or insects travel as a group from one region to another at a particular time of year, usually to find food, warmer weather, or a place to breed.

Example

Every autumn, swallows migrate south from Europe to Africa for the winter.

seasonal movement: [time] + migrate + [direction]

Rin learned that sea turtles migrate thousands of kilometres across the Pacific Ocean.

Common collocations
  • birds migrate
  • fish migrate
  • migrate south
  • migrate north
  • seasonal migration
Synonyms
  • travel

    broader meaning; does not imply seasonal return or group movement

  • relocate

    implies a permanent move rather than seasonal travel

  • rove

    more literary and suggests wandering without a fixed destination

Antonyms
  • stay

    remain in one place year-round

  • remain

    used when animals do not move between seasons

Grammar Patterns

migrate from [place] to [place]

migrate + adverb of direction

Usage Note

Typically used for birds, fish, mammals, and insects that move seasonally. The direction is often indicated with an adverb such as 'south', 'north', or 'eastward'.

Common Mistakes

The birds will immigrate south for winter.
The birds will migrate south for winter.
'immigrate' is used only for people entering a country to live, not for animals.

2. Migrate is used when groups of people travel to a different area, often temporar

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

Migrate is used when groups of people travel to a different area, often temporarily, seeking work, safety, or an improved quality of life.

Example

Many workers from rural areas migrate to the city during the dry season.

[source] + migrate to [destination] + [time]

During the famine, thousands of families migrated north to find food and safety.

Common collocations
  • migrate to cities
  • migrate for work
  • internal migration
  • labour migration
  • migrate abroad
Synonyms
  • relocate

    suggests a planned, permanent move rather than temporary or seasonal migration

  • resettle

    implies establishing a new home, often after displacement

  • emigrate

    specifically means leaving one's own country to live elsewhere

Antonyms
  • remain

    stay in one's original place

  • return

    to go back to the place of origin

Grammar Patterns

migrate from [country/region] to [country/region]

migrate to [place] for [reason]

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'emigrate' (leave one's own country permanently) and 'immigrate' (enter a new country permanently). 'Migrate' often implies temporary or seasonal movement and can refer to internal movement within a country.

Common Mistakes

My family migrated from Taiwan to Canada to settle there permanently.
My family emigrated from Taiwan and immigrated to Canada.
'migrate' suggests temporary or seasonal movement; for permanent moves, use 'emigrate' (leave) or 'immigrate' (enter).

3. To move gradually from one place or position to another, used especially in form

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

To move gradually from one place or position to another, used especially in formal or scientific contexts for things that shift over time.

Example

The company decided to migrate its headquarters to a bigger city last year.

migrate [asset/organisation] to [new location]

As the town expanded, the main market migrated to a larger eastern area.

Common collocations
  • migrate eastward
  • gradually migrate
  • migrate over time
  • migrate from one place to another
Synonyms
  • move

    general-purpose term; less formal and less specific about gradual change

  • shift

    emphasises a change in position, often within the same area

  • drift

    suggests slow, passive movement without clear direction

Antonyms
  • stay

    remain fixed in one place

  • settle

    to become fixed or established in one place

Grammar Patterns

migrate from [place] to [place]

migrate + [direction]

Usage Note

Used in formal or scientific writing to describe gradual movement. Less common in everyday speech than 'move' or 'shift'.

Common Mistakes

The kids migrated to the kitchen when they smelled pizza.
The kids ran to the kitchen when they smelled pizza.
'migrate' suggests slow or systematic movement over distance, not a quick, everyday action.

4. When you migrate in computing, you transfer information or programmes from an ol

4.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

When you migrate in computing, you transfer information or programmes from an older platform or server onto a newer one, usually to gain better performance or features.

Example

João's team will migrate staff email accounts to the new cloud platform next month.

migrate [data/accounts] to [new system]

Christopher helped the library migrate its catalogue from the old system to an open-source one.

Common collocations
  • migrate data
  • migrate to the cloud
  • migrate systems
  • migrate accounts
  • data migration
Synonyms
  • transfer

    more general; does not specifically imply changing platforms or systems

  • port

    software-specific; means adapting software to run on a different system

  • convert

    focuses on changing format rather than moving location

Grammar Patterns

migrate [data/system] from [old system] to [new system]

migrate to [new system]

Usage Note

Object is typically a system, application, dataset, or user accounts. Frequently used in the passive voice in technical documentation, e.g., 'The data was migrated successfully.'

Common Mistakes

The IT department immigrated the data to the new server.
The IT department migrated the data to the new server.
'immigrate' applies to people, not data or computer systems.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words describe moving to a new place, but they differ in perspective and permanence. 'Migrate' is the broadest term and often suggests temporary or seasonal movement — people migrate to cities for work and may return home later. 'Emigrate' focuses on leaving one's homeland: you emigrate from a country. 'Immigrate' focuses on arriving: you immigrate to a country. The same person can emigrate from Taiwan and immigrate to Canada. 'Relocate' is more neutral and formal, used by companies moving employees or families choosing a new home — it implies a planned, likely permanent move without the emotional weight of 'emigrate'. Example: 'Many families emigrated from Ireland during the famine and immigrated to the United States.' In contrast, 'The company relocated its engineer from New York to London last month.'

migrate ↗emigrate ↗immigraterelocate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in search of
  • from one place to another
  • in large numbers
  • over time

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Migrate' comes from the Latin verb 'migrare', meaning 'to move from one place to another'. It passed into English through French 'migrer' in the 1600s. The original Latin sense was broad, covering movement of people, animals, and things — a breadth the word still carries today.