catalyze

especially British, cat·a·lyse

[kat-l-ahyz]

verb (used with object)

catalyzed, catalyzing 

1. to act upon by catalysis.

catalyze

1. To modify, especially to increase, the rate of a chemical reaction through the action of a catalyst.

Other Word Forms

• catalyzer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of catalyze¹

First recorded in 1885–90; cataly(sis) + (-i)ze

Example Sentences

“This transaction strengthens our financial position and catalyzes a significant resource opportunity we’ve been building in our oil and gas business for the last decade,” Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub said in a statement.

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A number of factors catalyzed the city’s financial issues, which exploded into public view during the budget process earlier this year.

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Since then, the growing ties among researchers have catalyzed more connections.

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It was, after all, the fear of a Nazi bomb that first catalyzed the Manhattan Project that would create the American bombs.

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“This gift expands and builds upon one of the world’s leading agricultural research programs and will catalyze discovery and innovation,” he said.

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Related Words

• assemble 
• marshal 
• organize 
• prepare