vaporize

verb

va·​por·​ize ˈvā-pə-ˌrīz 

vaporized; vaporizing

transitive verb

1

: to convert (as by the application of heat or by spraying) into vapor

2

: to cause to become dissipated

3

: to destroy by or as if by converting into vapor

a tank vaporized by a shell

intransitive verb

1

: to become vaporized

2

: vapor sense 2

vaporizable

ˈvā-pə-ˌrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

vaporization

ˌvā-pər-ə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of vaporize

• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• shatter
• devastate
• wreck
• smash

Examples of vaporize in a Sentence

Heat is used to vaporize the liquid.

Pressure causes the chemical to vaporize.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those are just a few of the clever software-as-a-service portmanteaus being tossed around as investors debate a massive selloff in the sector that has vaporized roughly $1 trillion in valuations from recent highs, with more than $285 billion in market value wiped out in February alone. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026

This caused the Zn²⁺ particles to vaporize and break apart. —New Atlas, 14 Feb. 2026

While comets typically become most active near perihelion, when solar heat causes surface ices to vaporize, the SPHEREx data shows that 3I/ATLAS intensified well after that point. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026

But in 2019, a fire tore through the sisters’ homes and vaporized all of Liway’s cash. —Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

vapor entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for vaporize

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

Kids Definition

vaporize

verb

va·​por·​ize ˈvā-pə-ˌrīz 

vaporized; vaporizing

: to turn from a liquid or solid into vapor

vaporization

ˌvā-pə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

vaporize

verb

va·​por·​ize

variants also British vaporise

ˈvā-pə-ˌrīz 

vaporized also British vaporised; vaporizing also British vaporising

transitive verb

: to convert from a liquid or solid into a vapor

vaporized plaque in an artery with laser treatment

intransitive verb

: to become vaporized

vaporizable adjective

also British vaporisable

-ˌrī-zə-bəl