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
This is where the young Memphis Flash lived with his parents as a teenager, and his signature sound, style, and ambition began to crystallize.
—
Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
In a scene based on a real incident that crystallized some of the public’s reaction to Bardot at the time, a cleaning lady lashes out at the star’s character in an elevator, angry over her promiscuity while the maid’s brother is fighting in the Algerian War.
—Lee Smith, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
This sense crystallized for me as soon as the show began, and the audience was informed that an electrical issue in the venue had caused the screens onstage to blow out.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
At this year’s Academy Awards, Berry, 59, dazzled in a custom mirror-and-crystallized-mesh gown by Christian Siriano covered with 7,000 beads.
—Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crystallize
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Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
In a scene based on a real incident that crystallized some of the public’s reaction to Bardot at the time, a cleaning lady lashes out at the star’s character in an elevator, angry over her promiscuity while the maid’s brother is fighting in the Algerian War.
—Lee Smith, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
This sense crystallized for me as soon as the show began, and the audience was informed that an electrical issue in the venue had caused the screens onstage to blow out.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
At this year’s Academy Awards, Berry, 59, dazzled in a custom mirror-and-crystallized-mesh gown by Christian Siriano covered with 7,000 beads.
—Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 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 Jan. 2026.
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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