mates 1 of 2

plural of mate
1
2
3
4
5

mates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mate
as in sleeps
to engage in sexual intercourse cats conceive almost every time they mate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mates
Noun
Male fruit flies use their aedeagi to pierce their mates’ vaginal wall and inject peptides into their bloodstream, possibly to reduce their interest in other mates. Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Room and his Curaçao mates held a talented Ecuador team at bay. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026 While his national team-mates were labouring in London, he was enthused. Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026 Rumors swirled that Lachlan and his Scottish country mates — the traveling pep squad known as the Tartan Army — had drained the pub of all its beer on Sunday night. Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 19 June 2026 At the parade, the former cast mates were among dozens of stars celebrating the Knicks after their improbable playoff run. Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Lovely as a single serve or batch up in a big jug for the group stages and let your mates help themselves. Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 My lunch-mates opt for the Gillardeau oysters and sashimi mix. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026 Rachel Bilson and Wilson Bethel reunited at PlutoTV’s 15th anniversary celebration of the heartwarming show, alongside cast mates Jaime King and Kaitlyn Black. Selena Schorken, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
Verb
His rotation mates Jameson Taillon (20) and Shota Imanaga (17) have given up the most in the majors. Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 The centre-forward is increasingly aware of these situations, positioning himself correctly or attacking the right space to offer his team-mates an option when City are attacking the wide areas. Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mates
Noun
  • Turning a game of two halves into one of four quarters, pausing a sport that derives much of its power and mystique from a clock that never stops, has been universally unpopular.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
  • In one week this month, Washington moved on both halves of the AI power problem, and only one of them made the headlines.
    Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Others newly added to the professional list include degrees for physical therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, physician associates and anesthesiologist assistants.
    Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Prosecutors allege that six of Arnold’s associates actually carried out the crimes, holding, beating and pistol-whipping the victims, and that Arnold wasn’t there at the time.
    John Hanna, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Others newly added to the professional list include degrees for physical therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, physician associates and anesthesiologist assistants.
    Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Calderón, a big, bald man wearing a gold chain and cross-shaped earrings, sat off to the side, amid an entourage of muscular assistants in polo shirts, poking at his phone.
    Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Be patient with kids and romantic partners, because squabbles might arise.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 26 June 2026
  • Its story resonated deeply with Catherine Blanc-Maurizi, producer at Offshore, who brought the project to the aforementioned partners and also got co-directors Maud Garnier and Marc Robinet on board.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Along with the cooling centers, pools and splash pads will also be available, and well-being checks for friends and loved ones are available through 311.
    Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • After Kinney's death was announced, friends, family members and local community members shared tributes to her on social media.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Conclusion Somewhere tonight, a car on a random street here in the UK is silently feeding power back into the grid while its owner sleeps!
    Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Pick your poison, babe, for a Swift-centric escape in the city that never sleeps.
    Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Or through the eyes of her new companions, like Beef Roger Crummchuk.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 June 2026
  • Another 54% turned to their AI companions for advice on life skills.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • His wife, Francisca, and their two young sons were surrounded by relatives, friends, and colleagues during the ceremony.
    Doug Myers, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • In fact, many of us often end up buying things that our colleagues found during their search.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mates. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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