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masturbate

/ˌmæstərˈbeɪt/
/ˈmɑstəbeɪt/
IPA guide

Other forms: masturbated; masturbating; masturbates

To masturbate is to stimulate yourself sexually. In other words, to have sex by yourself, with yourself.

To masturbate means to have sex with yourself, usually using your hands. If you pick up a slang dictionary, you'll find hundreds and maybe thousands of terms that mean the same thing as masturbate. Those terms are almost all inappropriate, so use them carefully. Some religious traditions think that masturbating is a sin, but most people realize that there's nothing harmful or unusual about masturbating — it's a natural thing that humans do.

Definitions of masturbate
  1. verb
    get sexual gratification through self-stimulation
    synonyms: jack off, jerk off, she-bop, wank
    see moresee less
    type of:
    excite, stimulate, stir
    stir feelings in
  2. verb
    stimulate sexually
    synonyms:
    jack off, jerk off, she-bop, wank
    get sexual gratification through self-stimulation
    see moresee less
    type of:
    excite, stimulate, stir
    stir feelings in
Pronunciation
US
/ˌmæstərˈbeɪt/
UK
/ˈmɑstəbeɪt/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘masturbate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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