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
Don't fertilize a cool-season lawn later than six weeks before the first frost.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 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
For instance, scientists recently used AlphaFold to help discover a previously unknown protein complex that is essential for allowing sperm to fertilize an egg.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
Live birth, in which the eggs are fertilized internally, by comparison, yields toad broods that are significantly smaller: around 40 to 60 toadlets.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
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Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 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
For instance, scientists recently used AlphaFold to help discover a previously unknown protein complex that is essential for allowing sperm to fertilize an egg.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
Live birth, in which the eggs are fertilized internally, by comparison, yields toad broods that are significantly smaller: around 40 to 60 toadlets.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 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 5 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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