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

Many readers have difficulty synthesizing the strange worlds of these characters. — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Being able to synthesize information quickly, accurately, effectively for different audiences takes a lot of time and a lot of skill. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

This was the kind of needle in a haystack doctors hoped to find when health systems first started experimenting with generative AI tools like ChatEHR to search and synthesize patients’ health records. — Katie Palmer, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026

Gut bacteria are integral to human physiology, aiding digestion, synthesizing vitamins and other beneficial compounds, regulating immune responses, and helping prevent colonization by harmful microorganisms. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for synthesize

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

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