Here are some ways to think about it:
* Spread throughout: Imagine a smell that fills the entire house. That smell has permeated the house.
* Saturated: Think of a sponge absorbing water. The water has permeated the sponge.
* Penetrated: Imagine light shining through a window. The light has permeated the glass.
Example Sentences:
* The aroma of coffee permeated the kitchen.
* Fear permeated the city after the earthquake.
* The water from the flood had permeated the basement walls.