synthesize

verb

syn·​the·​size ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz 

synthesized; synthesizing

transitive verb

1

: to combine or produce by synthesis

2

: to make a synthesis of

3

: to produce (something, such as music) by an electronic synthesizer

intransitive verb

: to make a synthesis

Did you know?

Synthesize is a very common word in chemistry, since chemists are constantly synthesizing new compounds—that is, synthetic compounds—including drugs and industrial chemicals. It's also often used when talking about writing; nonfiction writers must often synthesize large amounts of material from many sources to produce a book—which represents a synthesis of the important materials. An electronic synthesizercreates new sounds (which may imitate the sounds of acoustic instruments) by generating different basic tones and then manipulating and merging them together with others.

Examples of synthesize in a Sentence

She synthesized the treatment from traditional and modern philosophies of medicine.

He synthesized old and new ideas to form his theory.

Amino acid is synthesized in the body.

Recent Examples on the Web

Studies show that the skin contains a strong capacity to synthesize and respond to cannabinoids. —Joy Organics, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

In 2017, Piskor took a similar all-encompassing ensemble approach to Marvel superhero mythology with X-Men: Grand Design, an attempt to synthesize the complicated history of mutants in a cohesive narrative. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2024

After synthesizing all the information, researchers gleaned some valuable insights from the tests. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

Agilent also uses its inkjet system to synthesize another genomic workhorse known as an oligonucleotide library. —Phillip W. Barth, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Mar. 2024

In just a few deft strokes (artistic intuition can be so efficient!), Julien synthesizes and distills a series of fraught and ongoing debates around European modernism, African art, colonialism and restitution. —Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024

Our bodies are actually able to synthesize D3 when our skin is exposed to direct sunlight. —Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024

After all, many educators and philosophers consider the writing process, which requires synthesizing information, to be a cornerstone of critical thinking – one that people are wary of outsourcing to AI. —Ulrich Boser, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

Decades ago, humans learned to sequence and synthesize DNA—that is, to read and write it. —IEEE Spectrum, 17 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

synthesize

verb

syn·​the·​size ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz 

synthesized; synthesizing

: to combine or produce by synthesis

Medical Definition

synthesize

transitive verb

syn·​the·​size

variants also British synthesise

-ˌsīz 

synthesized also British synthesised; synthesizing also British synthesising

: to combine or produce by synthesis

synthesize penicillin