precipitar
“precipitar” means “to hasten” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to hasten
Also: to trigger, to precipitate
📝 In Action
La crisis política podría precipitar la caída del gobierno.
B2The political crisis could hasten the government's fall.
Sus palabras precipitaron los acontecimientos.
C1His words triggered the events.
El frío intenso precipitó la nieve.
B2The intense cold caused the snow to fall.
to rush into
Also: to hurl oneself
📝 In Action
No te precipites, piénsalo bien antes de decidir.
B1Don't rush into it; think it over before deciding.
Me precipité al aceptar esa oferta de trabajo.
B2I acted too quickly in accepting that job offer.
El gato se precipitó desde el balcón.
C1The cat flung itself from the balcony.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: precipitar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'Don't rush into making a decision'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'praecipitare', which means 'to throw headfirst.' It combines 'prae' (before/in front) and 'caput' (head).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'precipitar' and 'apresurar'?
'Apresurar' usually just means to go faster or hurry. 'Precipitar' implies acting too soon, often with a negative result or lack of thought.
Can I use 'precipitar' for rain?
Yes, but it sounds very formal or scientific. In daily life, Spanish speakers just say 'llover' (to rain).
Is 'precipitar' regular?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar.