pullulate

USAGE SUMMARY

'pullulate' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an intransitive verb meaning "to become numerous or to multiply rapidly." For example, "The city population began to pullulate as refugees poured in from other regions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

What documentaries will look like ten or twenty years from now, when every life, prominent or otherwise, will pullulate with digital traces, one shudders to think.

The New Yorker

Rilke, Shaw, Richard Strauss, Maillol, Rodin, Munch, Diaghilev, Nijinsky, Duse, to drop just a few names, pullulate in the diaries — he knew them all, was their frequent guest and entertained the crème de la crème with a passionate assiduity.

The New York Times - Books

Such zany pictures hint at what creepy psychic stuff might pullulate beneath the sentimental, nostalgic and naïve surface of modern kitsch.

The New York Times - Arts

Gurney is like that - towering blocks and pricey malls - but this market is noisy, smelly and raucous: rough-and-ready-made food, if you like, and the hundred-odd stalls positively pullulate with life.

The Guardian - Travel

As the sun goes down over La Vache Point, accents thicken and the sweet urgent sounds of David Rudder pullulate and throb from a stack of beach-side speakers.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The sheer profusion and extent of some of these deformations leads the viewer to see the past with different eyes, and imagine the horror show the pays-bas of Britain's cities must have provided, when there were so many of the untreated wandering its pullulating byways.

The Guardian - Arts

Portcullis House, a parliamentary complex whose bland, airport-like atrium has become the 21st-century agora of British politics, pullulates with MPs from the 2010 Tory intake (who make up nearly half the parliamentary party).

The Economist

It feels hectic, noisy, pullulating with heady violence.

Independent

The stage pullulated with Parisian "types": gendarmes, street toughs, ladies in couture, plus a bicyclist tooling through, apparently looking for the Tour de France.

The New Yorker

It springs from a series of comic books by Bryan Lee O'Malley, and, in a zippy update on old "Batman" shows, the screen pullulates with graphic life: when a despairing Scott bangs his head against a telegraph pole, the word "Thonk" emerges from the impact.

The New Yorker

But then, there's no "house," no "object," no form that stops at a boundary, only a stream of manifold, precise, and nameless sensations, shifting into each other, pullulating, a fullness, a flow.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pullulate" when you want to convey a sense of rapid and abundant growth or multiplication, often in a biological or abstract sense. It is particularly effective in literary or descriptive contexts where a more evocative term than "increase" or "multiply" is desired.

Common error

Avoid confusing "pullulate" with words like "populate" or "pollute." "Pullulate" refers to rapid growth or teeming, while "populate" means to inhabit and "pollute" means to contaminate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pullulate" is as an intransitive verb, indicating an action performed by the subject itself, without acting upon a direct object. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes a state of rapid increase or multiplication. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing things like digital traces or life within a market.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pullulate" is an intransitive verb that describes rapid multiplication or growth, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, it is a relatively uncommon word, lending a touch of formality to writing. Its primary usage is found in news and media contexts to convey a sense of teeming abundance. When using "pullulate", ensure it aligns with the desired tone and that its meaning is not confused with similar-sounding words. Consider alternative phrases like "multiply rapidly" or "proliferate quickly" for broader appeal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

multiply rapidly

Focuses specifically on the speed of multiplication.

increase exponentially

Highlights the accelerating rate of increase.

proliferate quickly

Emphasizes the speed and abundance of growth.

teem with life

Focuses on the abundance of life and activity.

swarm with activity

Highlights the bustling nature and high density of activity.

abound in numbers

Emphasizes the plentiful presence or high quantity.

burst forth

Suggests a sudden and energetic emergence or growth.

flourish vigorously

Highlights the health and strength of the growth.

brim with activity

Focuses on being full of activity and excitement.

grow abundantly

Simple expression focusing on plentiful growth.

FAQs

How can I use "pullulate" in a sentence?

You can use "pullulate" to describe something that is rapidly increasing in number or abundance. For example, "After the rain, mushrooms began to pullulate in the forest."

What does "pullulate" mean?

"Pullulate" means to increase rapidly in number; to teem or swarm. It is often used to describe the rapid growth of populations or ideas.

Are there any synonyms for "pullulate"?

Yes, some synonyms for "pullulate" include "proliferate", "teem", "swarm", and "multiply rapidly".

Is it appropriate to use "pullulate" in formal writing?

While "pullulate" is a valid word, it is less common in everyday speech and may be more suitable for formal or descriptive writing where a more evocative term is desired. Consider your audience and the tone of your writing.