oxidize

verb

ox·​i·​dize ˈäk-sə-ˌdīz 

oxidized; oxidizing

transitive verb

1

: to combine with oxygen

Other chemicals then oxidize the sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid, which along with the nitric acid increases the acidity of the dewdrop.

—R. Monastersky

Should the cork be allowed to dry out, it will shrink and allow air to seep in and oxidize the wine.

—Peter D. Meltzer

2

: to dehydrogenate especially by the action of oxygen

oxidize an alcohol to an aldehyde

3

: to change (a compound) by increasing the proportion of the electronegative part or change (an element or ion) from a lower to a higher positive valence

What mix of products is formed is a function of the electrode potential used to oxidize the chloride ion.

—Chemical & Engineering News

: remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule)

oxidize metallic copper to ionic copper

intransitive verb

: to become oxidized

Fats can either oxidize (combine with oxygen) or hydrolyze (combine with water) to become rancid.

—Shirley Corriher

Silver does not oxidize, or rust, on exposure to air. In fact, compared with most other elements, it is not particularly reactive.

—C. Claiborne Ray

oxidizable

ˌäk-sə-ˈdī-zə-bəl 

adjective

Examples of oxidize in a Sentence

The paint oxidizes and discolors rapidly.

Recent Examples on the Web

That ozone then reacts with organic compounds and oxidizes them, removing them from your clothes as effectively as detergent, but without the chemical runoff. —Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025

The wild child of skincare ingredients, vitamin C is water-soluble and oxidizes when it’s exposed to oxygen, light, and heat, making the product useless. —Marie Lodi, Flow Space, 9 July 2025

While chloramine will oxidize relatively quickly in open air when exposed to light, brewers in cities that use chloramine often use chemical tablets to neutralize chloramine. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 16 May 2025

Method 1: Using a Chlorine Solution Chlorine is a great cleaner to use for bathtub rings since the powerful chemical oxidizes the stain to life the soap scum. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing oxidize

• re-oxidize

Rhymes for oxidize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

oxidize

verb

ox·​i·​dize ˈäk-sə-ˌdīz 

oxidized; oxidizing

1

: to combine with oxygen

2

: to remove hydrogen from especially by the action of oxygen

3

: to remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule)

4

: to become oxidized

oxidizer noun

Medical Definition

oxidize

verb

ox·​i·​dize

variants also British oxidise

ˈäk-sə-ˌdīz 

oxidized also British oxidised; oxidizing also British oxidising

transitive verb

1

: to combine with oxygen

2

: to dehydrogenate especially by the action of oxygen

3

: to change (a compound) by increasing the proportion of the electronegative part or change (an element or ion) from a lower to a higher positive valence : remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule)

intransitive verb

: to become oxidized

oxidizable

-ˌdī-zə-bəl 

adjective