proliferate
verb C2
Plain meaning
to increase quickly in number
Exam-register meaning
to multiply or spread rapidly, especially across systems, markets, or texts
In context
naturalSmall cafés began to proliferate across the neighbourhood.
examOnline misinformation can proliferate rapidly when regulatory systems are weak.
Common collocations
proliferate rapidlyweapons proliferateplatforms proliferate
Watch out
Proliferate is intransitive in most academic use: “apps proliferated,” not “people proliferated apps”.
Word family
proliferation (noun)proliferative (adjective)