mate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Female screwworm flies produce eggs only once in a lifetime, and once they mate with a sterile male fly, they’re done with their reproduction cycle without having any offspring.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

The idea is that when sterile flies are released into targeted areas, they wold mate with wild screwworm flies and prevent them from reproducing.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

When produced and released in large numbers, sterile male flies mate with wild female flies, which then lay unfertilized eggs, according to the USDA.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

The Photinus carolinus species of firefly has just a few weeks every summer to flash their bioluminescent lights and mate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Nat saw much more of the fo’c’sle and the cabin boy than he did of the captain, first mate, and their passenger.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham