catalyze

verb

cat·​a·​lyze ˈka-tə-ˌlīz 

catalyzed; catalyzing

transitive verb

1

: to bring about the catalysis of (a chemical reaction)

an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of the sugars

2

: bring about, inspire

his vigorous efforts to catalyze us into activity

—Harrison Brown

3

: to alter significantly by or as if by catalysis

innovations in basic chemical theory that have catalyzed the field

—Newsweek

catalyzer noun

Synonyms

• beget
• breed
• bring
• bring about
• bring on
• cause
• create
• do
• draw on
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• induce
• invoke
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

Example Sentences

a reinstitution of the draft would catalyze protests around the country

Recent Examples on the Web

For the Nazi mystic Captain Blicero (father of the 00000), the rocket will catalyze humanity’s ascension to a higher realm of being. —John Semley, WIRED, 16 Feb. 2023

Instead of developing only academics and scientists, government policies will have to catalyze the creation of a new breed of entrepreneurial and executive talent that can fill key roles in quantum businesses. —Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022

Higgs points out that listing the species as threatened might catalyze such funding. —Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 23 Dec. 2022

In the current paper, Leigh’s team proposes that the shape-shifting reader molecules may be able to catalyze different chemical reactions depending on their shape. —WIRED, 3 Nov. 2022

Sulfur helps to catalyze reactions, and phosphorus is a vital part of ATP — the energy currency of life. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2016

These activities will catalyze that market through grants in basic technologies, investments in downstream processing, and training of mining and geology professionals. —Azeem Azhar, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2022

What sort of crisis might catalyze progress in Congress? —Dallas News, 18 July 2022

Business leaders who learn to use data as a powerful tool of persuasion will successfully unite and catalyze their teams around common goals. —Nicholas Freund, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

see catalysis

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

catalyze

verb

cat·​a·​lyze ˈkat-ᵊl-ˌīz 

catalyzed; catalyzing

: to bring about or produce by chemical catalysis

Medical Definition

catalyze

transitive verb

cat·​a·​lyze

variants or British catalyse

ˈkat-ᵊl-ˌīz 

catalyzed or British catalysed; catalyzing or British catalysing

: to bring about the catalysis of (a chemical reaction)

catalyzer noun

or British catalyser