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

Cook until the shallots caramelize, turning lightly golden with crispy edges. —CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

Sweet potatoes have a sweet, earthy flavor that caramelizes when roasted. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 13 Nov. 2025

This cozy potato side channels all that caramelized, cheesy, brothy goodness in casserole form. —Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025

For a fun twist, stir in diced jalapeños, roasted red peppers, or caramelized onions before baking. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 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