metastasize
verb
me·tas·ta·size
mə-ˈta-stə-ˌsīz 
metastasized; metastasizing
: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
… died of lung cancer which had metastasized throughout his body.—
G. P. Elliott
G. P. ElliottExamples of metastasize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From there, the situation metastasized into a crisis for Paramount.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Mellencamp announced that the cancer had metastasized in March 2025.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
The overall five-year survival rate is just 14 percent, and that number drops even lower if the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 June 2026
These tumors can grow rapidly, invade surrounding blood vessels, and may even metastasize to other organs such as the liver.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for metastasize
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Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Mellencamp announced that the cancer had metastasized in March 2025.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
The overall five-year survival rate is just 14 percent, and that number drops even lower if the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 June 2026
These tumors can grow rapidly, invade surrounding blood vessels, and may even metastasize to other organs such as the liver.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for metastasize
Cite this Entry
“Metastasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metastasize. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metastasize
verb
me·tas·ta·size
mə-ˈtas-tə-ˌsīz
: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis
Medical Definition
metastasize
intransitive verb
me·tas·ta·size
variants
also British metastasise
metastasized also British metastasised; metastasizing also British metastasising
: to spread by metastasis
… all ten were primary brain cancers; that is, they had originated in the brain, and not metastasized there from elsewhere in the body.—Paul Brodeur, The New Yorker
Paul Brodeur, The New YorkerLove words? Need even more definitions?
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