1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in roots
the source from which something grows or develops
the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
they could trace their origins back 15 generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of origins
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon all have sites with Phoenician origins.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
The origins of Short’s Black Dahlia nickname date back long before her murder.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Here’s a few more things to know about the origins of the holiday and how it’s celebrated.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
The long-standing tradition is almost a century old and has its origins in Philadelphia.
—Nikki Dementri, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Egg’s plucky insolence belies his puny size, a comedic contrast with Claffey’s ex-rugby player physique, and perhaps his seemingly humble origins as well.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Mothering origins Merchant took up the mantle of sharing nursery rhymes with youths eight years ago while living in Troy, New York.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
Which is tear apart a lot of innocent lives around this country, most notably in Democratic sanctuary cities such as Chicago and nearby — men, women and children whom Trump’s overly aggressive, indiscriminate deportation force regards as not having the right skin color or national origins.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
This sporty version pays homage to the '80s and the sneaker’s soccer origins by adding a super-long foldover tongue.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origins
Noun
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Whenever using space heaters in a bathroom or kitchen, take all precautions to reduce the risk of electric shock whether that's positioning your heater away from water sources like sinks and showers.—
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Plot details are under wraps, though sources tell us this is a cop film.—
Noun
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Overwatering The main reasons orchid roots get mushy and cause leaf wilt are overwatering or poor drainage, according to Kondrat.—
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According to Nitzsche, simmer pots have historical roots, with a presences across cultures.—
Noun
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Most of these acquisitions occurred during a relatively narrow window in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, some 140 million years ago, just before many major lineages began to diverge quickly (in evolutionary terms, anyway).—
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The lineages appear to have co-existed in the region for a time.—
Noun
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Married couples shared a bed, and one of their younger children might sleep with them, though infants had cradles.—
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In the photos, Travis can be seen down on one knee as Swift cradles his face in the sweet moment.—
Noun
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Both stories have been condensed to their main scenes and songs but still contain full stories with beginnings, middles and ends.—
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What numerology 2026 means for your life The destiny number 1 stands for new beginnings, personal responsibility, and courageous initiative.—
Noun
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But many Chicanos trace their lineage to indigenous peoples who survived Spanish colonization, often carrying mixed indigenous, Spanish, and other ancestries, a testament to survival and cultural fusion.—
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This lack of representation is problematic for people of different ancestries because genetic risk factors differ across populations.—
Noun
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Quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts have outstanding pedigrees and produced in Super Bowls yet still have their detractors nationwide and within the fan base.—
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Last year, all five nominees boasted international pedigrees.—
Noun
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The seal texts often introduced the owners with their names, genealogies, gender, professions and hometowns.—
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Transcripts, grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, glyph studies, botanical studies, commentaries, articles, editions of codices, correspondence, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, Maya Society materials, genealogies of Maya families, and Mayan glyphs on moveable type.—
Cite this Entry
“Origins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origins. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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