Penetrated: Definition, Usage Examples, and Grammatical Forms

Penetrated is the past tense and past participle of penetrate, meaning to enter, pass through, or pierce into something.

Physical Sense

• "The bullet penetrated the victim's skull."
• "Rainwater penetrated the roof through a cracked tile."
• "The needle penetrated the vein for IV access."

Figurative Sense

• "The idea of starting over penetrated the depths of her soul."
• "The company's marketing campaign penetrated the target market successfully."
• "Sunlight penetrated the dense forest canopy."

Adjective Forms

• Penetrating wound: Injury that enters a body cavity or deep tissue.
• Penetrating gaze: Intense, searching look that seems to "see through" someone.
• Penetrating insight: Deep, perceptive understanding.
• Penetrating oil: Low-viscosity lubricant that seeps into tight spaces.

Related Terms

Penetration (noun), penetrative (adj), impenetrable (cannot be entered).

The word conveys forceful or deep entry, whether literal or metaphorical.