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
Trump began his video by affirming his support for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a process that involves fertilizing eggs outside the womb to induce a pregnancy.
—
Nik Popli, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
How pollen affects your body? Plants, trees and grass release pollen in the spring to fertilize other plants of the same species.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The process involves collecting eggs from ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab, then implanting them in a uterus.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Start fertilizing roses with slow-release fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
The female will then deposit her eggs onto the bed, and the male will fertilize them, both fish typically staying nearby until the eggs hatch.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024
During the treatment, an egg is removed from a woman’s body and fertilized with sperm inside a laboratory before being implanted into a woman’s uterus in hopes of leading to pregnancy.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Fertilizer When the flower buds begin to form in early spring, fertilize Easter lilies with fertilizer containing a high phosphorus content, such as a 5-10-5 formulation.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are a long-term, reversible form of birth control that lessens the ability of sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
Nik Popli, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
How pollen affects your body? Plants, trees and grass release pollen in the spring to fertilize other plants of the same species.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The process involves collecting eggs from ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab, then implanting them in a uterus.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Start fertilizing roses with slow-release fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
The female will then deposit her eggs onto the bed, and the male will fertilize them, both fish typically staying nearby until the eggs hatch.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024
During the treatment, an egg is removed from a woman’s body and fertilized with sperm inside a laboratory before being implanted into a woman’s uterus in hopes of leading to pregnancy.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Fertilizer When the flower buds begin to form in early spring, fertilize Easter lilies with fertilizer containing a high phosphorus content, such as a 5-10-5 formulation.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are a long-term, reversible form of birth control that lessens the ability of sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fertilize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fertilize
Cite this Entry
“Fertilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertilize. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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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