metabolize

verb

me·​tab·​o·​lize mə-ˈta-bə-ˌlīz 

metabolized; metabolizing

transitive verb

: to subject to metabolism

intransitive verb

: to perform metabolism

metabolizable

mə-ˌta-bə-ˈlī-zə-bəl 

adjective

Examples of metabolize in a Sentence

Food is metabolized by the body.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stress and metabolic hormones such as cortisol and insulin tend to rise in the morning and fall throughout the day, which is why experts say that our bodies are better able to digest and metabolize food earlier in the day rather than later. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026

The calorie counts on most nutrition labels reflect the total our bodies are likely to metabolize, not their burn rate. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

Cows eat the grass but do not metabolize beta-carotene efficiently, so it is expressed in their milk. — Rosemary Trout, Scientific American, 27 June 2026

Sugar and carbohydrates, metabolized into glucose, serve as primary fuel. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

metabol(ic) or metabol(ism) + -ize

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for metabolize

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

Kids Definition

metabolize

verb

me·​tab·​o·​lize mə-ˈtab-ə-ˌlīz 

metabolized; metabolizing

: to break down by metabolism

food is metabolized by the body

Medical Definition

metabolize

verb

me·​tab·​o·​lize

variants also British metabolise

-ˌlīz 

metabolized also British metabolised; metabolizing also British metabolising

transitive verb

: to subject to metabolism

intransitive verb

: to perform metabolism

metabolizer noun

also British metaboliser

-ˌlī-zər