Penetrate meaning

What does “penetrate” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“penetrate” is a verb with 7 meanings. Its most common meaning is: pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance.

penetrate

pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
“The bullet penetrated her chest”
Synonymsperforate
come to understand
Synonymsfathom bottom
become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
“It dawned on him that she had betrayed him”
“she was penetrated with sorrow”
Synonymsclick get through dawn come home get across sink in fall into place
enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members
“The student organization was infiltrated by a traitor”
Synonymsinfiltrate
make one's way deeper into or through
“The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest”
insert the penis into the vagina or anus of
“Did the molester penetrate the child?”
spread or diffuse through
“An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration”
“music penetrated the entire building”
Synonymspermeate pervade interpenetrate diffuse imbue riddle

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University