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
The program planted over one million trees in 2024, produced 100,000 tons of organic compost to fertilize cropland and generated carbon credits that have created a new revenue stream for farmers.
—
Eduardo Garcia, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
While actively growing, fertilize with a balanced slow release granular vegetable fertilizer (such as 10-10-10).
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
Other Iberian harvester ant eggs fertilized with Messor structor sperm resulted in hybrid female workers.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
All that airborne guano is nature’s marine fertilizer, and scientists have been vastly underestimating how much seabird poop is actually fertilizing our oceans and coastlines.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
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Eduardo Garcia, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
While actively growing, fertilize with a balanced slow release granular vegetable fertilizer (such as 10-10-10).
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
Other Iberian harvester ant eggs fertilized with Messor structor sperm resulted in hybrid female workers.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
All that airborne guano is nature’s marine fertilizer, and scientists have been vastly underestimating how much seabird poop is actually fertilizing our oceans and coastlines.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 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 27 Sep. 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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