What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cultivate
Example
The farmer cultivated the land before planting the seeds. [cultivated: past tense]
Example
She worked hard to cultivate a good relationship with her new boss. [cultivate: verb]
till
Example
He tilled the soil before planting the vegetables. [tilled: past tense]
Example
She had to till through a lot of research to find the answer. [till: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cultivate is more commonly used than till in everyday language, especially in non-agricultural contexts. Cultivate is versatile and can be used to describe a wide range of activities, while till is more specific to soil preparation.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between cultivate and till?
Both cultivate and till can be used in formal and informal contexts, but cultivate may be perceived as slightly more formal due to its wider range of applications beyond gardening and farming.