migrate
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
to move from one region or habitat to another, especially periodically or according to the seasons
to move from one system, platform, or place to another; to change or transfer
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a planned, intentional, or necessary move rather than a casual one. Can refer to people, animals, data, or software.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Migrate' is slightly more common in American English in IT contexts (e.g., 'migrate data').
Connotations
Neutral in both. In human contexts, can carry a formal or official tone.
Frequency
Comparably frequent; core meaning is stable across varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] migrates[Subject] migrates [prepositional phrase: to/from/into][Subject] migrates [adverbial: annually/southwards]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Migrate to the cloud (IT)”
- “Birds migrate south for the winter”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
We need to migrate our customer data to the new CRM system by Q3.
Academic
The study tracked how populations migrated across the continent during the last ice age.
Everyday
My grandparents migrated to this city in the 1960s for work.
Technical
The application will migrate the virtual machine to a different host server.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The swans migrate to the Somerset Levels each autumn.
- Many skilled workers migrated to Australia for better opportunities.
American English
- The company is migrating its email system to a new provider.
- Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to Mexico.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some birds migrate in winter.
- My friend migrated to Canada.
- Many people migrate to find better jobs.
- The whales migrate to warmer waters to breed.
- The software update will require us to migrate all user data.
- Historically, tribes migrated across the plains following the herds.
- The government's policies inadvertently encouraged skilled labour to migrate overseas.
- The legacy system is no longer supported, necessitating a complex migration to a new platform.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MIGRATory bird – it has to MOVE or RELOCATE.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS CHANGE; LIFE IS A JOURNEY
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'мигрировать' (прямой перевод, корректно). Основная ловушка — выбор предлога (migrate TO a country, FROM a region).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'migrate' for short-term travel ('tourists migrate').
- Incorrect preposition: 'migrate in' a country (use 'to' or 'within').
- Confusing 'migrate', 'emigrate' (exit), and 'immigrate' (enter).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'migrate' correctly in a modern IT context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Migrate' is the general term for movement. 'Emigrate' means to leave one's country to live elsewhere (focus on origin). 'Immigrate' means to come into a new country to live (focus on destination).
Yes, it's commonly used in technology (migrate data/systems/websites) and can be used metaphorically for ideas or cultural practices.
It is neutral but can sound formal when applied to human movement. In biology and IT, it is standard technical vocabulary.
The preposition 'to' is most common (migrate to a place). 'From', 'between', and 'into' are also frequently used.