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

Examples of catalyze in a Sentence

a reinstitution of the draft would catalyze protests around the country

Recent Examples on the Web

The Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, in 2016, catalyzed a new era of Native activism, and, in recent years, young Native activists took up Peltier’s campaign. —Nick Estes, New Yorker, 26 June 2025

What changes catalyzed the transformation of this long-term process into the Great Reshuffle? —Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025

Led in large part by trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, these demonstrations catalyzed a movement. —Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

see catalysis

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for catalyze

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

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