ovulation

noun

ovu·​la·​tion ˌä vyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce ovulation (audio) ˌō- How to pronounce ovulation (audio)
: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary
Doctors have found that a few days before ovulation, as many as 30 to 50 egg follicles have begun to mature. Normally, only one will fully ripen … and the rest are lost.Mary Duenwald
In principle, ovulation takes place midway through a 28-day … cycle.Judith N. Schwartz

Examples of ovulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The former could be a side effect of a low-dose birth control pill or even ovulation (when a shift in hormones can cause a bit of your endometrium to break off early), for instance. Erica Sloan, SELF, 3 June 2025 Combination methods work to prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, which is the release of an egg from the ovaries. Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 21 May 2025 The research demonstrates that a fibrotic, stiff ovary can negatively impact follicle development, egg quality, and ovulation—all crucial factors for both fertility and hormone production. ForbesWomen: Get the ForbesWomen newsletter, and supercharge your mission with success stories, tips and more. Samantha Walravens, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 For women, keep an eye on your menstrual cycle, as many women tend to experience more symptoms with hormonal fluctuations, particularly during ovulation, when histamine levels in the body are higher. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ovulation

Word History

Etymology

ovule or its source, Medieval Latin ōvulum + -ation

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ovulation was in 1848

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Cite this Entry

“Ovulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ovulation. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

ovulation

noun
ovu·​la·​tion ˌäv-yə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce ovulation (audio)
also
ˌōv- How to pronounce ovulation (audio)
: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary
The persistent high level of estrogen induces an abrupt release of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland, and this hormonal surge then triggers ovulation.Hsiu-Wei Su et al., Bioengineering & Translational Medicine

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