fertilize

verb

fer·​til·​ize ˈfər-tə-ˌlīz 

fertilized; fertilizing

transitive verb

: to make fertile: such as

a

: to apply a fertilizer to

fertilize land

b

: to cause the fertilization of

fertilizable

ˈfər-tə-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

adjective

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

Eighty miles of gallops surrounded by all that unploughed grass, rich in limestone, good for horse bones and fertilized by roaming sheep. — Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Fertilizer The American Camellia Society recommends fertilizing camellias in early March, early May, and early July, as these plants are heavy feeders. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Lightly fertilize the overseeded part of your yard for about a month. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 17 Sep. 2026

But don’t fertilize once your mums form flower buds, says Enfield. — Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fertilize

• cross-fertilize

Rhymes for fertilize

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

Kids 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