caramelize

verb

car·​a·​mel·​ize ˈkär-mə-ˌlīz 

ˈker-ə-mə-,

ˈka-rə-mə-

caramelized; caramelizing

1

transitive : to subject (sugar or the sugar content of a food) to caramelization : to change into caramel (see caramel sense 1) by heating at high temperature

… flan bathed in caramelized sugar and topped with whipped cream …

—Penelope Casas

At a restaurant, some unlucky prep cook gets to peel, slice, and caramelize bags of onions in the morning.

—Stephanie Alleyne

2

intransitive : to change to caramel

Fructose begins to rapidly caramelize at around 200 degrees …

—Matthew Card

: to undergo caramelization

These sweet potatoes caramelize slightly in the oven, which gives them a sweet crunch as their flesh remains creamy.

—Lesley Porcelli

Examples of caramelize in a Sentence

The onions will take five minutes to caramelize.

Caramelize two cups of sugar.

Continue stirring until the sugar caramelizes.

Recent Examples on the Web

At less than $3 per pack, these pumpkin- and leaf-shaped cookies are crunchy, caramelized, and perfectly designed to fit on the rim of your mug. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025

Official tasting notes describe maple syrup, caramelized ginger, fresh fruit salad, and sweet cream on the palate, the result of having been matured in both new and used oak and picking up some influence from the wine barrels. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2025

Two years later, her 75 percent dark chocolate and caramelized white chocolate won awards at the Academy of Chocolate Awards, too. —Rebecca L. Rhoades, Saveur, 20 Aug. 2025

Allowing the heat to circulate around the chicken ensures that the edges are browned and caramelized. —Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for caramelize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize