crystallize

verb

crys·​tal·​lize ˈkri-stə-ˌlīz 

variants or less commonly crystalize

crystallized; crystallizing

transitive verb

1

: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form

2

: to cause to take a definite form

tried to crystallize his thoughts

3

: to coat with crystals especially of sugar

crystallize grapes

intransitive verb

: to become crystallized

crystallizable

ˈkri-stə-ˌlī-zə-bəl, 

ˌkri-stə-ˈlī- 

adjective

crystallization

ˌkri-stə-li-ˈzā-shən 

noun

crystallizer noun

Synonyms of crystallize

• form
• solidify

Examples of crystallize in a Sentence

Eventually the paint will start to crystallize.

Certain conditions can cause carbon to crystallize into diamonds.

Certain conditions can crystallize carbon into diamonds.

The final paragraph of the essay crystallizes her theory.

He tried to crystallize his thoughts.

Her theory crystallizes in the final paragraph of the essay.

Recent Examples on the Web

While rumblings of discontent had long swirled around Starmer’s leadership within Labour following a string of missteps, unpopular policy decisions and costly U-turns, the local elections in early May crystallized the rebellion. —Joe Mayes, Fortune, 22 June 2026

Continuation funds, long a private-equity instrument, are migrating into venture to crystallize value that has nowhere else to go. —Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

As the 1956 Suez Crisis helped crystallize an alliance between Arab nationalists and the Soviet Union, this anti-Zionist ideology took root in the Middle East. —Adam Louis-Klein, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026

The exasperation crystallized in November 2025. —Adam Crafton, New York Times, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

crystal entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for crystallize

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

Kids Definition

crystallize

verb

crys·​tal·​lize ˈkris-tə-ˌlīz 

crystallized; crystallizing

1

a

: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form

b

: to become crystallized

2

: to take or cause to take definite form

the plan crystallized slowly

crystallization

ˌkris-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

crystallize

verb

crys·​tal·​lize

variants also crystalize also British crystallise or crystalise

ˈkris-tə-ˌlīz 

crystallized also crystallized also British crystallised or crystallised; crystallizing also crystallizing also British crystallising or crystallising

transitive verb

: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form

especially : to cause to form perfect or large crystals

intransitive verb

: to become crystallized

—often used with out

the solid crystallized out

crystallizable

-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

adjective