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

Roast until browned and caramelized, about 30 minutes. —ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026

Any add-ins, like blueberries or chocolate chips, will caramelize against the heat of the skillet, boosting your pancakes with extra flavor and depth. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026

Ortiz-Concha reimagines the regional staple with grass-fed beef, caramelized onions, and roasted local chiles. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 22 minutes or until the dip begins to bubble and the cheese on top has started to brown and caramelize. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026

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