metabolize
verb
me·tab·o·lize
mə-ˈta-bə-ˌlīz 
metabolized; metabolizing
: to subject to metabolism
: to perform metabolism
Examples of metabolize in a Sentence
Food is metabolized by the body.
Recent Examples on the Web
As people age, there is a decrease in the enzyme that metabolizes alcohol, said Dr. Stephanie Collier, director of education in the division of geriatric psychiatry at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.
—
Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Unlike the other six essential amino acids, which are broken down in the liver, BCAAs are metabolized in the muscle.
—Donavyn Coffey, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
Sante’s experience speaks to how transphobia gets metabolized in the mind, even for someone in a social circle in which she was rarely exposed to outright bigotry.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Bacterial strains that metabolized bilirubin using bilirubin reductase all came from species that were found to belong to a single clade (the researchers informally referred to it as the bilirubin reductase clade).
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2024
This gives the body enough time to digest and metabolize the CBD.
—Carol Lee, Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2024
Older people metabolize drugs differently, so the drugs may accumulate dangerously in a patient’s body.
—Diana Zuckerman, STAT, 2 Feb. 2024
Yeast and bacteria metabolize the sugars, producing alcohol, carbon dioxide and other chemical compounds that provide flavor and aroma.
—Tucker Harris, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2024
Refined carbohydrates, such as those in white bread and pasta, are metabolized quickly.
—Erica Jansen, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2024
Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Unlike the other six essential amino acids, which are broken down in the liver, BCAAs are metabolized in the muscle.
—Donavyn Coffey, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
Sante’s experience speaks to how transphobia gets metabolized in the mind, even for someone in a social circle in which she was rarely exposed to outright bigotry.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Bacterial strains that metabolized bilirubin using bilirubin reductase all came from species that were found to belong to a single clade (the researchers informally referred to it as the bilirubin reductase clade).
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2024
This gives the body enough time to digest and metabolize the CBD.
—Carol Lee, Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2024
Older people metabolize drugs differently, so the drugs may accumulate dangerously in a patient’s body.
—Diana Zuckerman, STAT, 2 Feb. 2024
Yeast and bacteria metabolize the sugars, producing alcohol, carbon dioxide and other chemical compounds that provide flavor and aroma.
—Tucker Harris, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2024
Refined carbohydrates, such as those in white bread and pasta, are metabolized quickly.
—Erica Jansen, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metabolize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
metabol(ic) or metabol(ism) + -ize
First Known Use
1877, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near metabolize
Cite this Entry
“Metabolize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metabolize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
metabolize
verb
me·tab·o·lize
mə-ˈtab-ə-ˌlīz
metabolized; metabolizing
: to break down by metabolism
food is metabolized by the body
Medical Definition
metabolize
verb
me·tab·o·lize
variants
also British metabolise
metabolized also British metabolised; metabolizing also British metabolising
: to subject to metabolism
: to perform metabolism
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