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

For the commemorative jewelry, Kloots collaborated with Eterneva, a company that grows diamonds in its lab using an individualized method that pressurizes the ashes (or hair) of a deceased loved one. —Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026

According to Ars, the PrK module will be decommissioned and no longer pressurized until that happens, which could greatly limit the use of its attached dock. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 June 2026

Effectively, this means cosmonauts will no longer enter the PrK module or attempt to pressurize it. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026

Cabins aren’t fully pressurized, so the gas in your stomach expands at altitude and leaves you bloated. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pressurize

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

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