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
Over the years, The 78 has been in the running for everything from Amazon’s second headquarters to a Chicago casino, but time and again, Related was unable to land that elusive anchor tenant to catalyze the megadevelopment.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
In the past 20 years, she’s launched dozens of fragrances, plenty of them beloved, and introduced a color cosmetics line back in 2017 (around the same time Fenty Beauty debuted and catalyzed the great celebrity-brand boom).
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 7 May 2025
Conversely, other economists and data center lobbyists argue that the industry’s overall impact vastly outweighs those potential losses, including by supporting local infrastructure and catalyzing further investment.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
But by the time Mo returned for its second season, this past January, the massacre Hamas committed on Israeli soil on that day in 2023 had catalyzed a war that has decimated Gaza.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for catalyze
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Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
In the past 20 years, she’s launched dozens of fragrances, plenty of them beloved, and introduced a color cosmetics line back in 2017 (around the same time Fenty Beauty debuted and catalyzed the great celebrity-brand boom).
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 7 May 2025
Conversely, other economists and data center lobbyists argue that the industry’s overall impact vastly outweighs those potential losses, including by supporting local infrastructure and catalyzing further investment.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
But by the time Mo returned for its second season, this past January, the massacre Hamas committed on Israeli soil on that day in 2023 had catalyzed a war that has decimated Gaza.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for catalyze
Cite this Entry
“Catalyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalyze. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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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