grad·u·ate
ˈgra-jə-ˌwāt 
graduated; graduating
1
: to receive an academic degree or diploma
graduated with honors
2
: to pass from one stage of experience, proficiency, or prestige to a usually higher one
graduated to team leader
3
: to change gradually
1
a
: to grant an academic degree or diploma to
b
: to be graduated from
joined the navy after graduating high school
2
a
: to mark with degrees of measurement
b
: to divide into grades or intervals
3
: to admit to a particular standing or grade
Usage of Graduate
In the 19th century the transitive sense (1a) was prescribed; the intransitive
I graduated from college
was condemned. The intransitive prevailed nonetheless, and today it is the sense likely to be prescribed and the newer transitive sense (1b)
she graduated high school
the one condemned. All three are standard. The intransitive is currently the most common, the new transitive the least common.
grad·u·ate
ˈgra-jə-wət
-ˌwāt
-ˌwāt
ˈgraj-wət
1
: a holder of an academic degree or diploma
a college graduate
2
: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask
grad·u·ate
ˈgra-jə-wət
1
: of, relating to, or engaged in studies beyond the first or bachelor's degree
graduate school
a graduate student
2
: holding an academic degree or diploma
Examples of graduate in a Sentence
Verb
He graduated from the university last June.
They both graduated with honors.
She graduated with a degree in history.
He joined the navy after graduating from high school.
a graduating class of 300 students
He joined the navy after graduating high school.
The word has graduated from slang to accepted use.
My nephew has graduated from baby food to solid food.
Adjective
He is taking graduate classes at the university.
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Drawing comparisons to Michael Jackson while honing lithe dancing skills and his supple tenor, Usher graduated from opener to solo headliner in 2002 with his 8701 Evolution Tour in support of his third studio album, 8701.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Those alumni as well as other illustrious graduates were celebrated on October 20 in an exclusive Latin Power Players invite-only event.
—Quincy Green, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025
Margo Anderson, IEEE Spectrum, 19 Oct. 2025
Atharva Gosavi Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for graduate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
After graduating from high school, Ellen attended Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Drawing comparisons to Michael Jackson while honing lithe dancing skills and his supple tenor, Usher graduated from opener to solo headliner in 2002 with his 8701 Evolution Tour in support of his third studio album, 8701.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
One of the most popular college majors is seeing a significant decline in graduates, according to a new report from AEI.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Those alumni as well as other illustrious graduates were celebrated on October 20 in an exclusive Latin Power Players invite-only event.
—Quincy Green, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Cora Ruiz is a graduate student in Jois’s Security, Privacy and Cryptographic Engineering Lab at City College.
—Margo Anderson, IEEE Spectrum, 19 Oct. 2025
Atharva Gosavi Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for graduate
Cite this Entry
“Graduate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graduate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
graduate
1 of 3 noun
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-(ə-)wət
-ə-ˌwāt
1
: a holder of an academic degree or diploma
2
: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring
graduate
2 of 3 adjective1
: holding an academic degree or diploma
2
: of or relating to studies beyond the bachelor's degree
graduate
3 of 3 verb
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt
graduated; graduating
1
: to grant or receive an academic degree or diploma
2
: to divide into grades, classes, or intervals
Medical Definition
graduate
1 of 2 noun
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-(ə-)wət
-ə-ˌwāt
-ə-ˌwāt
: a graduated cup, cylinder, or flask for measuring
graduate
2 of 2 transitive verb
grad·u·ate
ˈgraj-ə-ˌwāt
graduated; graduating
: to mark with degrees of measurement
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