catalyze
verb
cat·a·lyze
ˈka-tə-ˌlīz 
catalyzed; catalyzing
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
Harrison Brown3
: to alter significantly by or as if by catalysis
… innovations in basic chemical theory that have catalyzed the field …—Newsweek
Newsweek
catalyzer
noun
Examples of catalyze in a Sentence
a reinstitution of the draft would catalyze protests around the country
Recent Examples on the Web
Wu Tsai helped catalyze this tipping point, personally investing tons of money into a team whose toniest perk used to be an MTA pass for free subway rides.
—Yohana Desta, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026
The events of the Clearances catalyze the action in this novel, which begins with John, a Presbyterian minister, having accepted a commission to sail to a remote island and evict its last tenant.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 May 2026
The consumer group proposed several cost-saving alternatives such as inserting liners or decommissioning pipes to catalyze a transition to all-electric homes.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
These two cases have catalyzed a necessary national conversation, but that conversation must not flatten the racial dimensions of this crisis.
—Earl Smith, Time, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for catalyze
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Yohana Desta, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026
The events of the Clearances catalyze the action in this novel, which begins with John, a Presbyterian minister, having accepted a commission to sail to a remote island and evict its last tenant.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 May 2026
The consumer group proposed several cost-saving alternatives such as inserting liners or decommissioning pipes to catalyze a transition to all-electric homes.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
These two cases have catalyzed a necessary national conversation, but that conversation must not flatten the racial dimensions of this crisis.
—Earl Smith, Time, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for catalyze
Cite this Entry
“Catalyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalyze. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
catalyzed or British catalysed; catalyzing or British catalysing
: to bring about the catalysis of (a chemical reaction)
catalyzer
noun
or British catalyser
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