penetration

/ˌpenəˈtreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌpenəˈtreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌpe-nə-ˈtrā-shən/ (ame, mw)

penetration — noun

1. the act of going into something, passing through it, or gaining a place within a

1.名詞C2
釋義

the act of going into something, passing through it, or gaining a place within a market or system

例句

Rainwater penetration cracked the paint on the kitchen ceiling.

material damage use

Engineers tested the helmet for nail penetration in the lab.

penetration in safety testing

同義詞
  • entry

    is broader and can describe simply going in, without the idea of pushing through

  • intrusion

    suggests unwanted or unwelcome entry

  • access

    focuses on the chance or right to get in, not the act itself

  • reach

    is common in business for spread or coverage, especially among customers

反義詞
  • blockage

    suggests something stopping movement inward

  • exclusion

    focuses on being kept out of a place, system, or market

文法句型

penetration into something

penetration through something

market penetration

用法筆記

Usually uncountable in technical and business writing. Common after into or through when naming a material or space, and before market when talking about how far a product has entered sales in a place.

常見錯誤

❌The company has a high penetration in the Korean market.
✅The company has high market penetration in the Korean market.
💡this noun is usually uncountable in business use.
❌The nail made a deep penetrate in the wall.
✅The nail made a deep penetration into the wall.
💡use 'penetration' as the noun, not the verb 'penetrate'.

2. sex in which one partner puts part of the body, especially the genitals, or an o

2.名詞C2
釋義

sex in which one partner puts part of the body, especially the genitals, or an object inside the other person's body

例句

The school health booklet defines penetration as one kind of sexual contact.

sex-education definition use

During the exam, the doctor asked whether penetration caused pain.

medical discussion use

同義詞
  • intercourse

    is more formal and often refers to sex more broadly, not only insertion

  • insertion

    is more clinical and can refer to many non-sexual actions as well

  • vaginal sex

    is narrower because it excludes other kinds of penetration

文法句型

penetration without consent

avoid penetration

pain during penetration

用法筆記

Usually uncountable when speaking generally. Common in clinical, legal, and educational writing, often with words such as consent, pain, or include. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about physical or market entry rather than sex.

常見錯誤

❌Sex always means penetration.
✅Sex does not always mean penetration.
💡penetration is only one possible part of sexual activity.
❌The doctor asked about a penetration.
✅The doctor asked about penetration.
💡this sense is usually uncountable when discussed in general.

3. a strong ability to understand what is really happening and see important meanin

3.名詞C2
釋義

a strong ability to understand what is really happening and see important meaning quickly

例句

Mia's interview notes showed real penetration in the bank fraud case.

show penetration

The young editor wrote with penetration about the mayor's land deal.

write with penetration

同義詞
  • insight

    is the most common modern word for clear deep understanding

  • perception

    can stress noticing fine details or hidden meaning

  • discernment

    sounds more formal and stresses good judgment

  • understanding

    is broader and less focused on quick sharp perception

反義詞
  • shallowness

    means lack of depth in thought or analysis

  • blindness

    suggests failure to notice what matters

文法句型

show penetration

write with penetration

lack penetration

用法筆記

Mostly found in formal writing about thinking, criticism, or analysis. Often appears after show, with, or lack. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about going inside something physically, and from sense 2, which is sexual.

常見錯誤

❌Her essay had many penetrations about art.
✅Her essay showed real penetration in its discussion of art.
💡this sense is uncountable and is not normally used in the plural.
❌The report was very penetration.
✅The report showed great penetration.
💡use the noun here, or choose the adjective 'penetrating'.