pressurize

verb

pres·​sur·​ize ˈpre-shə-ˌrīz 

pressurized; pressurizing

transitive verb

1

: to confine the contents of under a pressure greater than that of the outside atmosphere

especially : to maintain near-normal atmospheric pressure in during high-altitude or spaceflight (as by means of a supercharger)

2

: to apply pressure to

3

: to design to withstand pressure

pressurization

ˌpre-sh(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

pressurizer noun

Examples of pressurize in a Sentence

A pump is used to pressurize the fuel.

The system that pressurizes the airplane's cabin failed to operate correctly.

Don't let them pressurize you to do anything you don't want to do.

Recent Examples on the Web

The crew originally hoped to blast off in early February but the flight was delayed, first by hydrogen leaks detected during a fueling test, and then by problems pressurizing the rocket's upper stage propulsion system. —William Harwood, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

Instead of using cryogenic hydrogen, the company is using gaseous hydrogen that's been pressurized to 700 atmospheres. —David Szondy march 26, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026

The pressurizing defense forced the Vandals into gnarly 29/20 percent shooting splits. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026

The gas is then pressurized and pushed through a pipeline to other facilities downstream. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pressurize

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

Kids Definition

pressurize

verb

pres·​sur·​ize ˈpresh-ə-ˌrīz 

pressurized; pressurizing

1

: to maintain near-normal atmospheric pressure in

pressurize an airplane cabin

2

: to apply pressure to

pressurization

ˌpresh-(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən

noun