What does pullulate mean?
Pullulate means to multiply rapidly or become extremely numerous. It is especially used for living things such as insects, plants, bacteria, or other organisms, and it can also describe ideas, problems, or developments that spread quickly. The word often carries a suggestion of rapid, sometimes uncontrolled, growth: an infestation may pullulate, or a population may pullulate under favourable conditions. In figurative use, it is typically formal and literary, lending a vivid sense of abundance and vigorous expansion. Although the basic sense concerns multiplication, pullulate can also mean to sprout or develop vigorously. Its related noun, pullulation, names the process of rapid multiplication or growth and is particularly associated with formal or scientific prose.
To multiply or spread rapidly, especially in large numbers.
"Mosquitoes pullulate around the stagnant water."
Often used of organisms, infestations, or figurative things such as problems and ideas.
To sprout or grow vigorously.
"Weeds pullulate along the neglected field boundary."
This sense is less common in modern usage and is somewhat literary.
Pullulate captures the explosive multiplication of life: one small beginning can become a thriving swarm.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pullulate come from?
The verb comes from the Latin pullulare, meaning “to sprout” or “to multiply,” related to pullulus, meaning “sprout” or “young shoot.” The word was borrowed into English in the 17th century in the sense of sprouting or multiplying, and its modern use commonly emphasizes rapid increase. The noun pullulation derives from the same Latin root and preserves the sense of proliferation or abundant growth.
Related word forms
How pullulate is actually used
The word is formal and somewhat literary. It often conveys rapid or uncontrolled multiplication, although it can also describe vigorous growth or development. The related noun “pullulation” is uncommon but idiomatic in formal writing.
Easily confused with pullulate
“Pullulate” means to multiply or grow rapidly, whereas “populate” means to furnish an area with people or to form a population.