formulate

verb

for·​mu·​late ˈfȯr-myə-ˌlāt How to pronounce formulate (audio)
formulated; formulating

transitive verb

1
a
: to reduce to or express in a formula
formulate the area of a rectangle
b
: to put into a systematized statement or expression
formulate long-term goals
c
: devise
formulate a policy
formulate a plan
2
a
: to develop a formula for the preparation of (something, such as a soap or plastic)
a plastic specially formulated to resist high temperatures
b
: to prepare according to a formula
formulate the vaccine against malaria
formulator noun

Examples of formulate in a Sentence

a plastic specially formulated to resist high temperatures the doctor was trying to formulate a good way to tell her that she would need surgery
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pros: Comes in three strengths; very moisturizing; no stinging Cons: None Sensitive skin types are particularly tricky to treat with retinol, but Medik8 formulated a super gentle version. Deanna Pai, Glamour, 28 May 2025 At the same time, the company is experimenting with generative AI models to map emerging ingredient preferences, track real-time sentiment shifts, and test new scent profiles before they’re even formulated. Cathy Hackl, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 Key Ingredients: Aloe leaf juice, biotin, jojoba oil Best For: Adding moisture to dry, frizzy curls and coils—it’s specifically formulated for 3B-4C curls. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 22 May 2025 The feature uses the same foundational AI model as Google's Gemini chatbot to formulate answers to your search queries by ingesting the top 100 (!) search results. Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for formulate

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of formulate was in 1855

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Cite this Entry

“Formulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formulate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

formulate

verb
for·​mu·​late ˈfȯr-myə-ˌlāt How to pronounce formulate (audio)
formulated; formulating
1
: to express in a formula
2
: to put in systematic form : state definitely and clearly
formulate a plan
formulation
ˌfȯr-myə-ˈlā-shən
noun
formulator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on formulate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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