catalyze

1 of 2

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

catalyzer

2 of 2

noun

cat·​a·​lyz·​er

ˈka-tə-ˌlī-zər

plural -s

: catalyst

Synonyms of catalyze

Verb

• create
• cause
• generate
• bring
• prompt
• produce
• do

Examples of catalyze in a Sentence

Verb

a reinstitution of the draft would catalyze protests around the country

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Still, Bessent's comments Thursday failed to send bond yields lower, in turn catalyzing a sell-off in stocks that left the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 700 points by the close. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

Those gaps, the researchers argue, could have been filled by chemical reactions catalyzed by metals in the vent systems such as nickel, iron, cobalt and palladium. — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

The 1973 oil shock catalyzed investments in nuclear power, renewable energy, and efficiency that reduced the fossil-fuel intensity of the global economy even more rapidly than climate policy did in the years following the 2015 Paris Agreement. — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. — Big Think, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

see catalysis

First Known Use

Verb

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for catalyze

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

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