ionize

verb

ion·​ize ˈī-ə-ˌnīz 

ionized; ionizing

transitive verb

: to convert wholly or partly into ions

intransitive verb

: to become ionized

ionizable

ˈī-ə-ˌnī-zə-bəl 

adjective

ionizer

ˈī-ə-ˌnī-zər 

noun

Examples of ionize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This study presents the first characterization of a domestic species in Chernobyl, establishing their importance for genetic studies into the effects of exposure to long-term, low-dose ionizing radiation. —New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025

The red in the image indicates ionized hydrogen, and blue shows ionized oxygen. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 26 Nov. 2025

In short, this means the radiation is different from the type that can alter DNA and cause cancer (ionizing radiation). —Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

At some point, the Universe’s radiation was hot enough so that every neutral atom would have been ionized by a quantum of radiation, and that this leftover bath of radiation should still persist today at only a few degrees above absolute zero. —Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

ion + -ize, after German ionisiren (now ionisieren) or French ioniser

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for ionize

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

ionize

verb

ion·​ize ˈī-ə-ˌnīz 

ionized; ionizing

1

: to convert wholly or partly into ions

2

: to become ionized

ionizable

-ˌnī-zə-bəl 

adjective

ionization

ˌī-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

ionizer

ˈī-ə-ˌnī-zər 

noun

Medical Definition

ionize

verb

ion·​ize

variants or chiefly British ionise

ˈī-ə-ˌnīz 

ionized or chiefly British ionised; ionizing or chiefly British ionising

transitive verb

: to convert wholly or partly into ions

intransitive verb

: to become ionized

ionizable adjective

or chiefly British ionisable

-ˌnī-zə-bəl 

ionization noun

or chiefly British ionisation

ˌī-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən