migrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "migrate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of moving from one place to another, often in the context of animals, people, or data. Example: "Birds migrate south for the winter to find warmer climates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Broadly this confirms what you might guess: the poor often aspire to improve their lot by migrating, but cannot; those better off can mostly migrate if they fancy it.

The Economist

This gives them the option not to migrate and ensures that the traditions they're preserving endure".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Rising temperatures leading to greater water scarcity, sea level rises and extreme weather events may exacerbate tensions over natural resources and cause large numbers of people to become "climate refugees" as they migrate across borders.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then migrate to the restaurant proper for a feast of unfussy regional dishes such as pizza diavolo with salami and chilli or maccheroni al' ragu made with suckling lamb shoulder.

The Guardian - Travel

Start with Harriette Arnow's The Dollmaker, the 1954 bestseller which follows a Kentucky family as they migrate north for wartime jobs and settle in the factory housing of "Flint's Motor Company".

The Guardian - Books

Sahlee's family settled in Yarmouk, Syria, but they were forced to migrate once again after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.

The Guardian

Others migrate in search of work to subsidise this ever more unstable existence.

The Guardian

But now we have far fewer young people taking on this work because lots of the young people prefer to migrate to the cities or the US".

The Guardian

But the British authorities are so concerned that this young collective will want to migrate to the UK that their visa application has been refused.

The Guardian

The widely spaced eyes of the tadpoles migrate to the top of the head, the mouth and internal organs change shape, lungs form, gills diminish and the wide-finned tail is absorbed after legs grow".

The Guardian

The Ukip leader also said his predictions for how many Romanians and Bulgarians would migrate to Britain would prove to be correct.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the movement of populations, consider the reasons behind the migration, such as economic opportunities, environmental factors, or political instability.

Common error

Remember that "emigrate" means to leave one's own country, while "immigrate" means to enter a new country. Use "migrate" when the direction isn't the focus.

Linguistic Context

The verb ""migrate"" functions primarily to describe the act of moving from one region or habitat to another, often periodically or seasonally. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability, as shown by numerous examples in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Travel

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb ""migrate"" is a versatile term used to describe the act of moving from one place to another, whether referring to animals, people, or data. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. It's important to distinguish ""migrate"" from similar terms like "emigrate" and "immigrate", which have more specific meanings related to crossing country borders. Usage is very common across various contexts, particularly in news, travel, and business, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. Understanding these nuances ensures accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relocate

Implies a more permanent change of residence or business location.

move

A general term for changing location, lacking the specific connotations of "migrate".

emigrate

Specifically refers to leaving one's country to settle in another.

immigrate

Specifically refers to entering a new country to settle there.

transfer

Often used in the context of moving data or employees between systems or locations.

shift

Implies a change or movement, often in a metaphorical sense, such as shifting opinions.

journey

Focuses on the act of traveling and the experiences encountered during the movement.

traverse

Implies crossing or traveling through a particular area or terrain.

deport

Refers to expel someone from a country.

resettle

Implies settling in a new place after displacement or migration.

FAQs

How to use "migrate" in a sentence?

You can use "migrate" to describe the movement of people, animals, or data from one place to another. For example, "Many birds "migrate" south for the winter" or "We need to "migrate" our data to a new server".

What can I say instead of "migrate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "relocate", "move", "transfer", "emigrate", or "immigrate".

What's the difference between "emigrate", "immigrate", and "migrate"?

"Emigrate" means to leave one's country, "immigrate" means to enter a new country, and ""migrate"" is a more general term for moving from one place to another, without specifying the direction across country borders.

When is it appropriate to use "migrate" in a technical context?

"Migrate" is often used in technical contexts to describe moving data, systems, or applications from one environment to another. For example, "We plan to "migrate" our database to the cloud".