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
The show’s title—partly inspired by Elizabeth Alexander’s poetry collection of the same name—crystallizes that intention.
—
Juliana Ukiomogbe, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
That moment is crystallized for him in episode 15, based on the events from episode 12 on, the mass-casualty event.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
The solution was filtered, purified and crystallized into usable potassium nitrate before being transported to gunpowder mills.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
But at their core, pockets represented functional clothing, and women’s dress was meant to be decorative; these ideas crystallized during the Enlightenment era, which also led to men ditching their heels and more ornate adornments, and instead adopting more sober, standardized dress.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crystallize
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Juliana Ukiomogbe, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
That moment is crystallized for him in episode 15, based on the events from episode 12 on, the mass-casualty event.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
The solution was filtered, purified and crystallized into usable potassium nitrate before being transported to gunpowder mills.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
But at their core, pockets represented functional clothing, and women’s dress was meant to be decorative; these ideas crystallized during the Enlightenment era, which also led to men ditching their heels and more ornate adornments, and instead adopting more sober, standardized dress.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crystallize
Cite this Entry
“Crystallize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crystallize. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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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