quan·tize
ˈkwän-ˌtīz 
quantized; quantizing
1
: to subdivide (something, such as energy) into small but measurable increments
2
: to calculate or express in terms of quantum mechanics
quan·ti·za·tion
ˌkwäntə̇ˈzāshən
-än‧ˌtīˈ-
plural -s
: the act or process of quantizing: such as
a
: subdivision into quanta
b
: expression in terms of quantum theory
Examples of quantize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
Simply put, just like photons are quantized light waves, phonons are quantized sound waves.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Modern guitarists can reproduce Hendrix’s chain using separate plug-ins in digital audio workstation software, but the magic often disappears when everything is buffered and quantized.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Feb. 2026
It could be quantized and continuous instead, which would align with the fluid explanation, but whether fluid or particle, there are three possibilities for how dark matter behaves.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The physicists also showed that the system was quantized, or only gained or lost energy in specific amounts, the committee said—demonstrating another principle macroscopically.
—Connor Greene, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
That’s much easier in times when work on quantizing and foundation models and lower-bit systems has ushered in edge AI – the ability to locate the AI where the data already is, rather than porting it to centralized data centers.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
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Verb
Since the electron’s motional states are quantized, the resonator adopts one or two states during the experimental procedure, which is the potential building block of a qubit.
—ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
Simply put, just like photons are quantized light waves, phonons are quantized sound waves.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Modern guitarists can reproduce Hendrix’s chain using separate plug-ins in digital audio workstation software, but the magic often disappears when everything is buffered and quantized.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Feb. 2026
It could be quantized and continuous instead, which would align with the fluid explanation, but whether fluid or particle, there are three possibilities for how dark matter behaves.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The physicists also showed that the system was quantized, or only gained or lost energy in specific amounts, the committee said—demonstrating another principle macroscopically.
—Connor Greene, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
That’s much easier in times when work on quantizing and foundation models and lower-bit systems has ushered in edge AI – the ability to locate the AI where the data already is, rather than porting it to centralized data centers.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quantize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quantize. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
quantize
transitive verb
quan·tize
variants
also British quantise
quantized also British quantised; quantizing also British quantising
1
: to subdivide (as energy) into small but measurable increments
2
: to calculate or express in terms of quantum mechanics
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