The agonies of the machine age do not originate from the machines as such.
Source: tatoeba (20473)
Originate
/əˈɹɪd͡ʒɪneɪt/
Synonyms for "originate" (250 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (50)
Noun(9 words)
Strong matches (75)
Verb(21 words)
createcreatedcreates artderivedescenddescendeddescendsdesigndevelopdeviseemanateemanatedemanatesemanatingemergeexpress individualityfatheredfoundedgenerate random sequencegenerated
Show 1 more word
Noun(14 words)
creatingcreating categoryderived fromdutch komenemergingengenderingform basedfountfountainfountsgenerate random valuesgeneratinggerman kommengerminating
Adjective(1 words)
danish skabe
Related words (125)
give being togive birth togive occasion togive origin togive rise togrowhatchhave originheadhead upideateimagineimproviseinaugurateinitiateinnovateinstituteintroduceinventirrupt
Show 54 more words
issueissue forthlaunchleadlead offlead the waymakemake domake do withmake upmanufacturemastermindmaturemintmoldoccasionorganizeparentpioneerplanprecedeproceedprocreateproduceraiserealizeresultrevolutionizeriseset afloatset on footset upshapesirespawnspringspring fromspring upstagestand firststartstemstem fromstrike outsupposetake birthtake risetake the initiativetake the leadtake the plungethink outthink upusher inwork
Verb(18 words)
Noun(31 words)
Adjective(2 words)
inchoatepioneering method
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: arise, begin, initiate, start, archetype.
- Sentence evidence is available for originate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "originate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "originate"
Keep "originate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "originate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "originate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "originate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
10 entriesCollocations
6 entriesgeographic originnatural originorigin storyplace of originpoint of originprimary origin
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
27 translations across 17 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- пора́ждам verb (to give origin to, cause)
- създавам verb (to give origin to, cause)
Catalan
1 entries- originar verb (to give origin to, cause)
French
1 entries- instituer verb (to give origin to, cause)
Galician
1 entries- orixinar verb (to give origin to, cause)
German
2 entries- entwickeln verb (to give origin to, cause)
- erzeugen verb (to give origin to, cause)
Greek
1 entries- γεννώ verb (to give origin to, cause)
Hungarian
1 entries- megteremt verb (to give origin to, cause)
Italian
2 entries- dare origine verb (to give origin to, cause)
- originare verb (to give origin to, cause)
Korean
1 entries- 비롯하다 verb (to give origin to, cause)
Māori
2 entries- pūtake verb (to give origin to, cause)
- take verb (to give origin to, cause)
Ngazidja Comorian
1 entries- uhentsi verb (to give origin to, cause)
Portuguese
1 entries- originar verb (to give origin to, cause)
Russian
4 entries- породи́ть verb (to give origin to, cause)
- порожда́ть verb (to give origin to, cause)
- созда́ть verb (to give origin to, cause)
- создава́ть verb (to give origin to, cause)
Scots
1 entries- oreeginate verb (to give origin to, cause)
Spanish
1 entries- originar verb (to give origin to, cause)
Ukrainian
2 entries- породжувати verb (to give origin to, cause)
- створювати verb (to give origin to, cause)
Vietnamese
3 entries- bắt đầu verb (to give origin to, cause)
- phát minh verb (to give origin to, cause)
- sáng tạo verb (to give origin to, cause)
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
I must know where these quotations originate.
Source: tatoeba (253799)
Where did the Olympic Games originate?
Source: tatoeba (932514)
Most comets are thought to originate in a huge cloud called the Oort Cloud.
Source: tatoeba (3957569)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "originate"?
Closest matches include arise, begin, initiate, start, archetype.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "originate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.