decarbonize

American  

[dee-kahr-buh-nahyz] / diˈkɑr bəˌnaɪz /

especially British, decarbonise

verb (used with object)

decarbonizes, present (3rd person singular) decarbonized, past participle, past decarbonizing present participle

1. to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of (a household, industry, country, etc.).

   Our expertise is in designing new ways to decarbonize our economy, using solar energy and renewable carbon to replace fossil fuels.

2. decarburize.

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verb (used without object)

decarbonizes, present (3rd person singular) decarbonized, past participle, past decarbonizing present participle

1. to reduce the carbon output of the activities of a household, industry, country, etc..

   The world is not decarbonizing fast enough to reach global climate targets.

decarbonize British  

/ diːˈkɑːbəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. Also: decoke.   decarburize.  (tr) to remove carbon from (the walls of the combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• decarbonization
  noun
• decarbonizer
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has decarbonized
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have decarbonized
  perfect
• are decarbonizing
  progressive
• have been decarbonizing
  perfect progressive
• am decarbonizing
  progressive 1st person singular
• is decarbonizing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been decarbonizing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• decarbonizes
  singular 3rd person
• decarbonizing
  participle

Past

• had decarbonized
  perfect
• had been decarbonizing
  perfect progressive
• were decarbonizing
  progressive plural
• was decarbonizing
  progressive singular
• decarbonized
  simple
• decarbonized
  participle

Future

• will decarbonize
  simple
• will have decarbonized
  perfect
• will be decarbonizing
  progressive
• will have been decarbonizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of decarbonize

First recorded in 1815–25; de- + carbonize

Example Sentences

“Currently available SAF supply does not meet global airline demand for even one week,” Delta Air Lines told investors earlier this year, also asserting SAF is “the most promising lever known today” to decarbonize flight.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

"There is a global race to increase hydrogen availability in order to decarbonize and reduce the costs of the existing hydrogen economy," says Sherwood Lollar.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

Clean hydrogen, a fuel that was expected to become a big part of America’s push to decarbonize, appears to be dead for now.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

Mann said humanity needs to rapidly decarbonize our economy.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2024

The lungs will not decarbonize and purify the blood with foul air, that has been breathed over and over and lost its oxygen.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 60, October, 1862 by Various