cultivate
/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt/ (ame, mw)
cultivate — verb
- cultivatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- cultivateshe / she / it
- cultivatedpast simple
- cultivating-ing form
1. to get soil or land ready for farming and then raise crops or other useful plant
to get soil or land ready for farming and then raise crops or other useful plants on it by ploughing, planting, and watering regularly.
The Patel family has cultivated rice in this region for over fifty years.
present perfect: has cultivated + duration phrase
Karim spent his weekends cultivating vegetables in the small plot behind his house.
Farmers here cultivate wheat and barley on the wide plains near the river.
This hillside soil is too rocky to cultivate without removing the large stones first.
Niran learned to cultivate tea plants on his family's plantation in the highlands.
- farm
broader term covering all activities on a farm, not just soil preparation
- grow
focuses on the plant's development rather than the land preparation
- till
only covers ploughing and preparing soil, not planting or caring for the crop
- raise
often used for both plants and animals; slightly less formal than cultivate
文法句型
cultivate + noun phrase (land/soil/crops/plants)
常見錯誤
2. to work at developing a particular skill, habit, or quality through regular prac
to work at developing a particular skill, habit, or quality through regular practice, study, or effort over a period of time.
Adina cultivated her negotiation skills by working on complex business deals.
cultivate + skill — pattern for abilities gained through experience
Paloma tries to cultivate a habit of writing in her journal every evening.
Effective leaders cultivate the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
Charlotte cultivated an eye for design by visiting galleries and studying textiles.
The programme helps young musicians cultivate a deeper understanding of classical works.
- develop
more general and common; can describe any growth process, not just deliberate effort
- foster
emphasises providing a supportive environment for growth; slightly more formal
- nurture
suggests gentle, caring support over time; often used for talent or creativity
- refine
focuses on making something already present better or more polished
文法句型
cultivate + noun phrase (skill/habit/ability/interest/talent)
用法筆記
Frequently used with nouns that describe personal attributes such as skill, ability, habit, interest, talent, or taste. The emphasis is on long-term, deliberate development rather than quick improvement.
常見錯誤
3. to try deliberately to develop a friendship or connection with someone, usually
to try deliberately to develop a friendship or connection with someone, usually because you expect that person to be helpful or useful to you in the future.
Femi cultivated a strong working relationship with his overseas partners over many years.
cultivate + relationship — pattern for strategic connections
Andrew made a point of cultivating friendships with senior researchers at the conference.
The young diplomat cultivated ties with key officials during her posting in Geneva.
Rin cultivated useful contacts among local artists while running the gallery.
- court
suggests actively seeking favour or support, often in a political or romantic context
- foster
focuses on creating a supportive environment for the relationship to grow
- nurture
emphasises caring attention to maintain and strengthen the bond over time
- woo
implies trying to win someone's favour through charm; slightly old-fashioned
文法句型
cultivate + noun phrase (relationship/friendship/ties/connections)
用法筆記
This sense emphasises strategic or purposeful relationship-building, not casual friendship. The object is usually a professional or social connection that serves a longer-term goal. Commonly found in business, politics, and networking contexts.