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

Pancho often took him there, teaching Óscar when to fertilize and how to identify deadly fungus. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Water strawberries regularly until late summer, fertilize after fruiting, and apply mulch for winter protection. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026

The treatments include in vitro fertilization, which involves ovulation stimulation, retrieving the eggs, fertilizing them in a lab, and transferring the embryos into the uterus. — Lj Dawson, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Begin feeding once seedlings are actively growing—but don’t fertilize the seeds themselves—to provide nutrients that are depleted more quickly in pots. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 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