pressurize

verb pres·sur·ize \ ˈpre-shə-ˌrīz \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: pressurize in a Sentence

Definition of pressurize

pressurized; pressurizing

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

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pressurization

play \ˌpre-sh(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

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pressurizer

noun

See pressurize defined for English-language learners

See pressurize defined for kids

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 of pressurize from the Web

As of this writing, astronaut Jeff Williams is equalizing the pressure between the BEAM and ths ISS, but the habitat is stable after being sucessfully expanded and pressurized.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "Watch NASA Inflate a New Room for the ISS Live (Updated)," 26 May 2016
Some experts warned if the cave where the boys are trapped is pressurized, then drilling a hole could simply have sucked water levels higher.

— jake maxwell watts, WSJ, "What Lies Beneath? Vague Mapping Complicates Thai Cave Rescue," 8 July 2018
On the Falcon 9, the COPVs sit inside the propellant tanks and keep them pressurized during flight.

— loren grush, The Verge, "Here’s how Elon Musk might use rocket thrusters on the new Tesla Roadster," 16 June 2018
Since last week, workers have been attempting to de-pressurize the wells by pouring thousands of gallons of cold water into them.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "In Hawaii, lava continues its creep onto grounds of geothermal power plant," 27 May 2018
While in the chamber, patients breathe in pure oxygen, typically pressurized to about twice the density of sea-level air; in this environment, the lungs take in about 10 times as much oxygen as under normal conditions.

— david kohn, Washington Post, "Could hyperbaric treatment heal the brain?," 27 Jan. 2018
As the plane ascends, the level of oxygen decreases, which can cause rapid decompression for an aircraft that is not pressurized in the same way as a commercial airplane.

— celine hacobian, Time, "Here's How High Planes Actually Fly, According to Experts," 27 June 2018
The helium is used to pressurize the propellant tanks and provide the muscle needed for steering.

— william harwood, CBS News, "SpaceX set to launch its first "block 5" Falcon 9 rocket," 10 May 2018
There’s a good reason for this: Most planes flying are made of aluminum, and to prevent metal fatigue, the air needs to be dry and to be pressurized at a high altitude.

— barbara peterson, Condé Nast Traveler, "How Your Plane Can Make You Sick," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pressurize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of pressurize

1938

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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PRESSURIZE Defined for English Language Learners

pressurize

verb

Definition of pressurize for English Language Learners

: to press (something) tightly into a space or container
: to cause the air pressure inside (something, such as an airplane) to be the same as or close to the pressure of air on the Earth's surface