catalyze
verb
cat·a·lyze
ˈka-tə-ˌlīz 
catalyzed; catalyzing
1
: to bring about the catalysis of (a chemical reaction)
an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of the sugars
2
: bring about, inspire
his vigorous efforts to catalyze us into activity—
Harrison Brown
Harrison Brown3
: to alter significantly by or as if by catalysis
innovations in basic chemical theory that have catalyzed the field—Newsweek
Newsweek
catalyzer
noun
Examples of catalyze in a Sentence
a reinstitution of the draft would catalyze protests around the country
Recent Examples on the Web
An innocent conversation may catalyze a spiritual healing experience.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 19 July 2025
For Binance, this could catalyze a new wave of altcoin experimentation—not just on BNB Chain, but ecosystem-wide.
—Alice Liu, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
But a relatively short time after its creation, the complexity and expense of maintaining the wall catalyzed the band’s first serious brush with burnout—and, Anderson argues, played a factor in its hiatus.
—John Hendrickson, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
The flip-flop’s stylish resurgence has been years in the making, catalyzed mainly by The Row’s reimagining that recast the once-divisive shoe through a sleek, minimalist lens.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for catalyze
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Usa Today, USA Today, 19 July 2025
For Binance, this could catalyze a new wave of altcoin experimentation—not just on BNB Chain, but ecosystem-wide.
—Alice Liu, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
But a relatively short time after its creation, the complexity and expense of maintaining the wall catalyzed the band’s first serious brush with burnout—and, Anderson argues, played a factor in its hiatus.
—John Hendrickson, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
The flip-flop’s stylish resurgence has been years in the making, catalyzed mainly by The Row’s reimagining that recast the once-divisive shoe through a sleek, minimalist lens.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for catalyze
Cite this Entry
“Catalyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalyze. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catalyze
verb
cat·a·lyze
ˈkat-ᵊl-ˌīz
catalyzed; catalyzing
: to bring about or produce by chemical catalysis
Medical Definition
catalyze
transitive verb
cat·a·lyze
variants
or British catalyse
catalyzed or British catalysed; catalyzing or British catalysing
: to bring about the catalysis of (a chemical reaction)
catalyzer
noun
or British catalyser
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