fertilize
verb
fer·til·ize
ˈfər-tə-ˌlīz 
fertilized; fertilizing
: to make fertile: such as
a
: to apply a fertilizer to
fertilize land
b
: to cause the fertilization of
Examples of fertilize in a Sentence
A single sperm fertilizes an egg.
Bees fertilize plants as they collect nectar from flowers.
He fertilizes the lawn every year.
The soil is so rich there is no need to fertilize.
Recent Examples on the Web
After the almond bird fertilized the eggs of his new mate, the red pigeon returned to help guard their new nest, creating a somewhat throuple.
—
Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025
Warm-season lawns are fertilized in late spring and summer to promote dense growth and again in late summer or early fall, once the heat subsides, to aid recovery from summer stress and prepare the lawn for winter.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025
After being artificially fertilized and incubated in tanks, the spat -- or young oysters -- are transferred to the sea.
—Arkansas Online, 1 Dec. 2025
Taper off on the fertilizer during the fall, and stop fertilizing entirely around Halloween, Kondrat says.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
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Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025
Warm-season lawns are fertilized in late spring and summer to promote dense growth and again in late summer or early fall, once the heat subsides, to aid recovery from summer stress and prepare the lawn for winter.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025
After being artificially fertilized and incubated in tanks, the spat -- or young oysters -- are transferred to the sea.
—Arkansas Online, 1 Dec. 2025
Taper off on the fertilizer during the fall, and stop fertilizing entirely around Halloween, Kondrat says.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
Cite this Entry
“Fertilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertilize. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fertilize
verb
fer·til·ize
ˈfərt-ᵊl-ˌīz
fertilized; fertilizing
: to make fertile: as
a
: to cause the fertilization of
also
: to unite with in the process of fertilization
a sperm fertilizes an egg
b
: to apply a fertilizer to
fertilize land
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