galvanize

[ gal-vuh-nahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing.

1. to stimulate by or as if by a galvanic current.
2. Medicine/Medical. to stimulate or treat (muscles or nerves) with induced direct current ( faradize ).
3. to startle into sudden activity; stimulate.

   Synonyms: animate, spur, fire, electrify, stir, rouse

4. to coat (metal, especially iron or steel) with zinc.

galvanize

/ ˈɡælvəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to stimulate to action; excite; startle
2. to cover (iron, steel, etc) with a protective zinc coating by dipping into molten zinc or by electrodeposition
3. to stimulate by application of an electric current

noun

1. galvanized iron, usually in the form of corrugated sheets as used in roofing

Derived Forms

• ˌgalvaniˈzation, noun
• ˈgalvaˌnizer, noun

Other Words From

• galva·ni·zation noun
• galva·nizer noun
• non·galva·nized adjective
• pre·galva·nize verb (used with object) pregalvanized pregalvanizing
• regal·va·ni·zation noun
• re·galva·nize verb (used with object) regalvanized regalvanizing
• un·galva·nized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of galvanize¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; from French galvaniser, named after Luigi Galvani; -ize

Example Sentences

The three-month stretch between the symbolic kickoff and close of America’s summer has both galvanized broad public support for the racial justice movement and exposed the obstacles to turning that support into concrete political and policy changes.

From Fortune

Amazon had just acquired Whole Foods a few months earlier in 2017, galvanizing grocery chains to take a harder look at their digital capabilities.

From Fortune

I think they’re saying that until you acknowledge that there’s a problem that something’s important, few of us really galvanize around a solution.

From Ozy

Music and culture are inextricably tied to concrete historical and technological developments that galvanize America.

From Digiday

I think people felt that his presidency was too bureaucratic or too technocratic so that he wasn’t really taking advantage of the possibility of galvanizing a public.

From Freakonomics

The book is a manifesto—a single-handed attempt to galvanize the world to take to the streets.

From The Daily Beast

Do you think the film will galvanize enough interest to re-open the search for Yaser?

From The Daily Beast

It would galvanize a part of the left, and then the question becomes, how do you keep them motivated for a general election?

From The Daily Beast

The current firestorm should galvanize critics of education reform, but not in the way they think.

From The Daily Beast

But in this bitter race, the saga surely helped Schweikert galvanize his base, which will be critical to winning the primary.

From The Daily Beast

The student is skillfully insulated from any mental shock that might galvanize him into original intellectual life.

From Project Gutenberg

Of what use then, to try to galvanize the dead past into the semblance of vitality?

From Project Gutenberg

Not even a warm, brilliant sun can galvanize the corpse of the bare ungainly earth.

From Project Gutenberg

I do hope we can galvanize our friends in every State to concentrate all their money and forces upon South Dakota the coming year.

From Project Gutenberg

It does not express common, strong ideas, which easily galvanize popular attention dulled by toil.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arouse
• astonish
• energize
• excite
• frighten
• invigorate
• jolt
• motivate
• provoke
• shock
• spur
• startle
• stir
• stun