synthesize

verb

syn·​the·​size ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz 

synthesized; synthesizing

transitive verb

1

: to combine or produce by synthesis

2

: to make a synthesis of

3

: to produce (something, such as music) by an electronic synthesizer

intransitive verb

: to make a synthesis

Did you know?

Synthesize is a very common word in chemistry, since chemists are constantly synthesizing new compounds—that is, synthetic compounds—including drugs and industrial chemicals. It's also often used when talking about writing; nonfiction writers must often synthesize large amounts of material from many sources to produce a book—which represents a synthesis of the important materials. An electronic synthesizercreates new sounds (which may imitate the sounds of acoustic instruments) by generating different basic tones and then manipulating and merging them together with others.

Examples of synthesize in a Sentence

She synthesized the treatment from traditional and modern philosophies of medicine.

He synthesized old and new ideas to form his theory.

Amino acid is synthesized in the body.

Recent Examples on the Web

The group was trying to agree on the best language to synthesize evidence detailed deeper in the report. — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026

They can be synthesized such as medications like insulin and GLP-1 drugs, which have both been FDA approved for safety and efficacy following clinical trials. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

When scientists synthesize spider silk in the lab, using the exact sequence of amino acids to build a spidroin protein, the resulting silk is not as strong as natural silk. — Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026

Researcher Zhang Zhe and his team synthesized a dual-site catalyst known as MOF-808-NaCu. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for synthesize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

synthesize

verb

syn·​the·​size ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz 

synthesized; synthesizing

: to combine or produce by synthesis

Medical Definition

synthesize

transitive verb

syn·​the·​size

variants also British synthesise

-ˌsīz 

synthesized also British synthesised; synthesizing also British synthesising

: to combine or produce by synthesis

synthesize penicillin