precipitate

precipitate — verb

1. to cause an event or change, often an unpleasant one, to begin at once or earlie

1.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to cause an event or change, often an unpleasant one, to begin at once or earlier than people expected.

Example

The mayor's angry speech precipitated a strike by bus drivers.

precipitate + strike / crisis / conflict

A sharp price rise precipitated panic buying across the island.

Common collocations
  • precipitate a crisis
  • precipitate a conflict
  • precipitate change
  • precipitate panic
Synonyms
  • trigger

    common and slightly less formal; often for a chain reaction

  • spark

    suggests starting something suddenly, often conflict or interest

  • hasten

    stresses making something happen sooner

  • bring about

    broader and less focused on sudden timing

Antonyms
  • delay

    make something happen later

  • prevent

    stop something from happening at all

Grammar Patterns

precipitate + crisis / conflict / change

precipitate + reaction

Usage Note

Object is usually an event, crisis, change, or reaction, not a person or thing. It often suggests that the result comes quickly and is difficult to control.

Common Mistakes

The meeting was precipitated to three o'clock.
The meeting was moved to three o'clock.
precipitate means cause an event or reaction, not simply change a time.

2. to send someone or something hurtling down from a high place with strong force.

2.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to send someone or something hurtling down from a high place with strong force.

Example

The blast precipitated rocks onto the road below.

precipitate + object + onto/down

A wave precipitated the swimmer against the harbor wall.

Common collocations
  • precipitate into the sea
  • precipitate down the steps
  • precipitate onto the road
Synonyms
  • hurl

    common and forceful

  • fling

    suggests a sudden movement of the arm or body

  • cast

    literary and broader in direction

Antonyms
  • raise

    move something upward instead

  • lift

    pick something up rather than send it down

Grammar Patterns

precipitate + object + down / into / onto + place

Usage Note

This sense is literary and strongly physical. It is usually followed by a phrase showing downward direction such as into, onto, or down.

Common Mistakes

The teacher precipitated the books to the students.
The teacher threw the books to the students.
precipitate here suggests violent downward force, not an ordinary throw.

3. in chemistry, to form a solid that comes out of a liquid, or to make this happen

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveC2
Definition

in chemistry, to form a solid that comes out of a liquid, or to make this happen.

Example

When the liquid cooled, white crystals precipitated at the bottom.

intransitive: solid appears from liquid

Adding salt precipitated the protein from the warm solution.

transitive: precipitate + substance from solution

Common collocations
  • precipitate from solution
  • precipitate a protein
  • precipitated solid
  • precipitate copper
Synonyms
  • separate

    broader and not limited to chemistry

  • deposit

    often focuses on the solid left behind

  • crystallize

    narrower; suggests crystal formation

Antonyms
  • dissolve

    become part of the liquid instead of coming out of it

Grammar Patterns

substance precipitates from solution

precipitate + substance + from solution

Usage Note

Common in chemistry writing. Intransitive use names the solid that appears; transitive use names the action or substance that causes the separation.

Common Mistakes

Dust precipitated on the shelf overnight.
Dust settled on the shelf overnight.
this sense is mainly a chemistry term for a solid coming out of a liquid.

precipitate — noun

precipitate — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These verbs all connect one thing to a later result, but they differ in timing and tone. 'Cause' is the broad everyday word and says little about speed. 'Trigger' suggests a specific event that sets a reaction off, often quickly. 'Spark' is even more vivid and is common for arguments, protests, or interest suddenly starting. 'Hasten' focuses on making something happen sooner, without necessarily suggesting drama. 'Precipitate' is more formal than all of these and usually implies that something arrives abruptly, often before people are ready, and often with bad results. A small error may cause delays, a rude remark can spark a fight, and a sudden resignation may precipitate a crisis.

cause ↗trigger ↗spark ↗hastenprecipitate ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Precipitate comes from Latin praecipitare, which originally meant 'throw headfirst down'. It was built from prae meaning 'before' and caput meaning 'head'. English first kept the physical idea of being thrown down, then extended it to events that are brought on suddenly or too early. In scientific use, the idea of something dropping out led to the chemistry verb and the noun for the solid that forms.