produce
produce — verb
1. to create something through a physical or mental effort, especially in large num
to create something through a physical or mental effort, especially in large numbers so that it can be used or sold.
The factory produces over five thousand bicycles each month.
produce + quantity + time period
João's team produced a detailed report after three weeks of research.
This small bakery produces fresh bread every morning before six o'clock.
The furniture is produced in a workshop just outside the city.
passive: be produced in [location]
Nila produced a beautiful painting for the school art competition.
- produce goods
- produce results
- produce a report
- mass-produce
- produce evidence
- make
more general and informal; 'produce' often implies a process or system
- manufacture
specific to industrial or mechanical production on a large scale
- create
emphasises originality or bringing something new into existence
- destroy
to put an end to the existence of something
Grammar Patterns
produce something
be produced in/at/by
Usage Note
Often used for commercial or industrial creation, but also covers intellectual or artistic output. Can be used with a quantity to indicate output rate.
Common Mistakes
2. to bring young animals into the world through the process of birth.
to bring young animals into the world through the process of birth.
The mare produced a healthy foal after a long winter.
produce + animal offspring
Dahlia's cat produced four kittens in the old barn last night.
Most female elephants produce only one calf every few years.
The farmer's sheep produced twins this spring for the first time.
- produce young
- produce offspring
- produce a litter
- produce a calf
- give birth to
the common phrasing; 'produce' is slightly more formal and biological
- bear
more formal or literary; used in writing about animals
Grammar Patterns
produce + number + young/offspring
Usage Note
Only used for animals, not humans. For humans, use 'give birth to' or 'have a baby'. Subject is always a female animal.
Common Mistakes
3. to make something happen or come about as a natural or direct result of an actio
to make something happen or come about as a natural or direct result of an action or situation.
The new policy produced a wave of complaints from local residents.
produce + reaction/response
Mateo's speech produced laughter from everyone in the audience.
Years of poor diet can produce serious health problems later in life.
The sudden rain produced flooding in several low-lying villages.
Pim's careful explanation produced a clear change in the client's attitude.
produce + change/result
- produce an effect
- produce a reaction
- produce results
- produce change
- cause
more direct and common; 'produce' can sound slightly more formal
- generate
often used for abstract outcomes like interest, support, or energy
- bring about
phrasal verb, often used for significant changes or results
- prevent
to stop something from happening
Grammar Patterns
produce something
produce an effect/reaction/change
Usage Note
Subject can be an action, event, situation, or behaviour. The object is always an effect, reaction, or result — never a physical object.
Common Mistakes
4. to handle the business and money side of getting a film, TV programme, or theatr
to handle the business and money side of getting a film, TV programme, or theatre performance ready for audiences to see.
Élise produced the documentary about climate change for a national channel.
The play was produced by a small theatre company with very limited funding.
passive: produced by [organisation]
Tyler spent two years producing a series of short films for an online platform.
produce + [type of media] + duration
The local drama group produced a musical that ran for six weeks.
- produce a film
- produce a play
- produce a show
- produce a series
- produce a documentary
Grammar Patterns
produce something
Usage Note
This sense covers the business and organisational role, which differs from directing (creative decisions) or writing (content creation).
Common Mistakes
5. to oversee the technical and creative process of making a music recording, inclu
to oversee the technical and creative process of making a music recording, including the arrangement, sound quality, and performance direction.
Ziad produced the band's debut album in a small studio in Berlin.
Sivan is known for producing electronic music with a very clean, sharp sound.
The song was produced by a famous musician who also played the guitar.
passive: produced by [person]
Imani produced the track using only vintage equipment from the nineteen-seventies.
- produce an album
- produce a track
- produce a single
- music producer
- produce a record
- engineer
focuses on the technical sound-recording side rather than creative direction
Grammar Patterns
produce something
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 4 (FILM/TV): this sense is specific to music recordings, where the producer often has creative input on how the final recording sounds.
Common Mistakes
6. to take an object from a place where it has been stored or hidden and show it to
to take an object from a place where it has been stored or hidden and show it to someone.
Joon produced a pen from his jacket pocket and began to write.
produce something from [place]
The librarian produced an old map from a drawer behind her desk.
Esme produced her ticket at the gate and walked straight onto the train.
The suspect suddenly produced a knife from inside his coat.
- produce a ticket
- produce a card
- produce a weapon
- produce identification
- put away
to return something to storage
Grammar Patterns
produce something from/in something
produce something
Usage Note
Frequently followed by 'from [location]' or 'out of [container]'. The object is usually something small enough to be carried or concealed.
7. to lead to the discovery or appearance of something, especially by looking for i
to lead to the discovery or appearance of something, especially by looking for it or investigating a situation.
The police investigation produced new evidence linking the two crimes.
produce evidence/proof
A detailed search of the house produced the missing documents.
The journalist's questions finally produced an answer from the minister.
Three years of archaeological work produced the remains of an ancient temple.
- produce evidence
- produce proof
- produce a result
- produce findings
Grammar Patterns
produce something
Usage Note
Often implies effort or systematic searching. Common in legal, journalistic, and scientific contexts. The 'discovery' sense overlaps with BRING OUT (sense 6), but here the emphasis is on the result of a process rather than the physical act of pulling something out.
8. to grow or develop naturally, said of plants, crops, or other living things as p
to grow or develop naturally, said of plants, crops, or other living things as part of their biological cycle.
The apple trees in the garden produce fruit every autumn without fail.
produce + natural product
This type of soil produces excellent vegetables with very little care.
The Watanabe family's farm produces rice that is sold across the region.
During spring, the hills produce wild flowers of every colour.
The old oak tree no longer produces acorns as it once did.
- produce fruit
- produce crops
- produce flowers
- produce seeds
- naturally produce
Grammar Patterns
produce something
something produces
Usage Note
Unlike sense 1 (MAKE), this sense does not involve human effort or manufacturing. The subject is typically a plant, tree, field, or region. Can be intransitive: 'The apple trees produce well this year.'
produce — noun
1. crops such as fruit and vegetables that farmers grow and sell, usually eaten fre
crops such as fruit and vegetables that farmers grow and sell, usually eaten fresh rather than stored or processed.
The supermarket has a large section for fresh produce near the entrance.
fresh produce — common collocation
Local farmers sell their produce at the market every Saturday morning.
Baraka bought some organic produce from a stall run by a young grower.
The price of fresh produce rises sharply during the winter months.
Restaurants that use local produce often advertise it on their menus.
- fresh produce
- organic produce
- local produce
- farm produce
- seasonal produce
- produce section
Usage Note
Uncountable noun — never 'produces'. In American English, 'produce' almost always means fresh fruits and vegetables. In British English it can include other farm products like eggs, honey, or flowers.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- producernounB1
- productionnounB1
- productiveadjectiveB2
- productivitynounC1
- productnounA2
- reproduceverbB2
- reproductionnounC1
- by-productnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words describe bringing something into existence, but they differ in process and scale. 'Make' is the most general and least formal — you can make a sandwich, a decision, or a mess. 'Produce' (sense 1) implies a systematic or industrial process: factories produce goods, teams produce reports. 'Manufacture' is narrower and strongly tied to factory assembly lines and mass production — you manufacture cars or electronics, not a poem. 'Create' emphasises originality and invention: an artist creates a sculpture; a writer creates a character. 'Generate' is often used for abstract or intangible outcomes such as electricity, interest, or support. For example: a solar panel generates power; a factory produces bicycles; an artist creates a painting; a worker makes a chair.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'produce' comes from Latin 'producere', meaning 'to lead forward' or 'bring forth'. This was formed from 'pro-' (forward) and 'ducere' (to lead). It entered English through French in the 1400s, where it first meant 'to bring forth, to extend'. The sense of making things in large quantities developed during the Industrial Revolution, while the noun meaning 'farm products' appeared in the 1700s alongside the growth of urban food markets.