# assimilate

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈsɪm.ɪ.leɪt/ · frequency rank #27,057

## Definitions
1. To incorporate nutrients into the body, especially after digestion.
2. To incorporate or absorb (knowledge) into the mind.
3. To absorb (a person or people) into a community or culture.
4. To liken, compare to something similar.
5. To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between.
6. To become similar.
7. To be incorporated or absorbed into something.

## Etymology
First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; Middle English assimilaten (“to become similar; to make like”), from assimilat(e) (“assimilated”, also used as the past participal of assimilaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Late Latin assimilātus, variant of Latin assimulātus (“made similar, imitated”), perfect passive participle of assimulō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ad + simulō (“to imitate, copy”), from similis (“like, similar”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“together, one”). Doublet of assemble.

## Common misspellings (12)
`asimilate`, `asismilate`, `assiimlate`, `assimialte`, `assimilaet`, `assimilatte`, `assimillate`, `assimiltae`, `assimliate`, `assimmilate`, `assmiilate`, `sasimilate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/assimilate