metastasize

verb

me·​tas·​ta·​size mə-ˈta-stə-ˌsīz 

metastasized; metastasizing

intransitive verb

: to spread or grow by or as if by metastasis

… died of lung cancer which had metastasized throughout his body.

—G. P. Elliott

Examples of metastasize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Civil society, educators, law enforcement, technology platforms and international partners must work together to prevent hatred from metastasizing into violence. —Brian Siegal, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026

Debra was in remission for 15 years after a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, breast surgery and radiation sessions, though her cancer eventually returned and metastasized. —Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026

The protest quickly metastasized into an anti-regime storm. —Ali Vaez, Time, 15 Jan. 2026

The right-wing illustrator announced in May that he was being treated for prostate cancer, which had metastasized to his bones. —Brian Niemietz, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for metastasize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids 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

mə-ˈtas-tə-ˌsīz 

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

metastasization noun

also British metastasisation

mə-ˌtas-tə-sə-ˈzā-shən