catalyze
Americanverb (used with object)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of catalyze
First recorded in 1885–90; cataly(sis) + (-i)ze
Vocabulary lists containing catalyze
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The House of the Spirits
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Poon said that SpaceX work on the data centers will help catalyze development of the technology — and he expects his company will be able to hire SpaceX engineers seeking to work at a startup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
Much as “Romneycare” gave rise to the Affordable Care Act, WA Cares could finally catalyze a mandatory, universal long-term-care program at the federal level.
From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026
“We expect the cadence of AI-related order wins to accelerate and catalyze shares,” Dorsheimer wrote.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
The materials were then evaluated for their ability to catalyze hydrogen peroxide production.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 16, 2026
One reason why technology tends to catalyze itself is that advances depend upon previous mastery of simpler problems.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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In terms of the stock market set up going into earnings, Evercore notes that “the mood around tech is as cautious as it was in the runup to 1Q26 when earnings catalyzed the market higher.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
But the silence has catalyzed non-Swiftie onlookers to gin up something decisively, inarguably odious to place at the singer’s feet.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
“The fires catalyzed the acute need,” Enti said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
Since 2021, Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s entrepreneurship and innovation investments catalyzed more than 15,800 jobs and more than 1,400 high-tech companies, with every $1 in state investment leveraging $85 from other sources.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
His formula is that faith, hope, belief and expectation, all catalyzed by the imagination, lead inevitably to hypnosis.
From A Practical Guide to Self-Hypnosis by Powers, Melvin
Artificial intelligence is catalyzing innovation and attracting millions of users.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Vermont was not alone in experiencing the catalyzing effect of Jackson’s presidential runs.
From Salon ● Feb. 23, 2026
So far, the financial benefits of AI are more apparent in the chip sector, catalyzing a rotation out of software stocks.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 29, 2026
From Buenos Aires to Mexico City, pragmatic changes and fiscal credibility are catalyzing investment.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2025
I stopped eating in the house, even on the weekends, because without Clara’s catalyzing presence there was no reason why I should put up with my children’s bickering.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.