WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•cip•i•tate /v. prɪˈsɪpɪˌteɪt; adj., n. -tɪt, -ˌteɪt/USA pronunciation
v., -tat•ed, -tat•ing, adj., n.
v.
adj.
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to speed up (an event);
to bring about too soon:[~ + object]to precipitate a crisis. - to join in suddenly:[~ + object]to precipitate oneself into a struggle.
- Chemistry[~ + object] to separate (a substance) in solid form from a solution.
- Meteorology[no object] to fall to the earth's surface as a form of water;
to rain, snow, etc.
adj.
- done or made without enough thought or planning ahead of time;
too sudden:a precipitate marriage. - proceeding with great haste:a precipitate retreat.
n. [uncountable]
- Chemistrya substance precipitated from a solution.
- Meteorologymoisture in the form of rain, snow, etc.
pre•cip•i•tate
(v. pri sip′i tāt′;adj., n. pri sip′i tit, -tāt′),USA pronunciation v., -tat•ed, -tat•ing, adj., n.
v.t.
v.i.
adj.
n.
pre•cip′i•tate•ly, adv.
pre•cip′i•tate•ness, n.
pre•cip′i•ta′tive, adj.
pre•cip′i•ta′tor, n.
v.t.
- to hasten the occurrence of;
bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly:to precipitate an international crisis. - to cast down headlong;
fling or hurl down. - to cast, plunge, or send, esp. violently or abruptly:He precipitated himself into the struggle.
- Chemistryto separate (a substance) in solid form from a solution, as by means of a reagent.
v.i.
- Meteorologyto fall to the earth's surface as a condensed form of water;
to rain, snow, hail, drizzle, etc. - Chemistryto separate from a solution as a precipitate.
- to be cast or thrown down headlong.
adj.
- headlong:a precipitate fall down the stairs.
- rushing headlong or rapidly onward.
- proceeding rapidly or with great haste:a precipitate retreat.
- exceedingly sudden or abrupt:a precipitate stop; a precipitate decision.
- done or made without sufficient deliberation;
overhasty;
rash:a precipitate marriage.
n.
- Chemistrya substance precipitated from a solution.
- Meteorologymoisture condensed in the form of rain, snow, etc.
- Neo-Latin praecipitātum a precipitate, noun, nominal use of neuter of praecipitātus
- Latin praecipitātus (past participle of praecipitāre to cast down headlong), equivalent. to praecipit- (stem of praeceps steep; see precipice) + -ātus -ate1; (noun, nominal)
- (verb, verbal and adjective, adjectival) 1520–30
pre•cip′i•tate•ness, n.
pre•cip′i•ta′tive, adj.
pre•cip′i•ta′tor, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged accelerate.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged crystallize.
- 12.See corresponding entry in Unabridged reckless, impetuous.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged retard.
- 12.See corresponding entry in Unabridged careful.