exothermic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exothermic
Compare meaning
How does exothermic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
In chemistry, something that's exothermic has to do with the release of heat. Burning a candle is an exothermic process, since heat is given off. The scientific adjective exothermic is good for describing reactions that involve releasing energy, usually in the form of heat. Exothermic processes vary from something as simple as striking a match on a rough surface to a more extreme and violent example — an explosion. Part of what defines an exothermic reaction is that more energy is released than was required to start it. The word's Greek roots are exo, "outside," and therme, "heat."
Vocabulary lists containing exothermic
Chemistry - High School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The ACT Science Test: Physics Review
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Chemistry: Chemical Reactions
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
New analysis techniques developed in recent years have provided strong evidence that theropods like T. rex, velociraptors and other two-legged dinosaurs were endothermic animals like mammals and birds, rather than cold-blooded, or exothermic, like reptiles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
“The problem with this chemical is it is a possible flammable liquid and it does have exothermic properties.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
Of the five elements Al, Cl, I, Na, Rb, which has the most exothermic reaction?
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Although low temperatures favor product formation for this exothermic process, the reaction rate at low temperatures is inefficiently slow.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
“The water creates an exothermic reaction—do you feel it warming up?”
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
