crystallize
verb
crys·tal·lize
ˈkri-stə-ˌlīz 
variants
or less commonly crystalize
crystallized; crystallizing
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
: to become crystallized
crystallizer
noun
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
All of a sudden, songs started to crystallize out of the dark.
—
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2024
But for many Israelis and relatives of the scores of remaining hostages, the return of only four crystallized the obvious — that such complex military operations can probably only save a few of them and come at great risk to the military.
—Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 9 June 2024
Sean Illing One of the medical paradoxes here is that people who are dying experience near-total brain function collapse, and yet their awareness seems to crystallize, which seems impossible on its face.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 25 May 2024
As if this weren’t enough, there are other, bigger processes crystallizing in April.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crystallize 
Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2024
But for many Israelis and relatives of the scores of remaining hostages, the return of only four crystallized the obvious — that such complex military operations can probably only save a few of them and come at great risk to the military.
—Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 9 June 2024
Sean Illing One of the medical paradoxes here is that people who are dying experience near-total brain function collapse, and yet their awareness seems to crystallize, which seems impossible on its face.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 25 May 2024
As if this weren’t enough, there are other, bigger processes crystallizing in April.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crystallize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crystallize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near crystallize
Cite this Entry
“Crystallize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystallize. Accessed 22 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Medical Definition
crystallize
verb
crys·tal·lize
variants
also crystalize
also British crystallise
or crystalise
crystallized also crystallized also British crystallised or crystallised; crystallizing also crystallizing also British crystallising or crystallising
: to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
especially
: to cause to form perfect or large crystals
: to become crystallized
—often used with out
the solid crystallized out
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