galvanize

[gal-vuh-nahyz]

See more synonyms for galvanize on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing.

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

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

Also especially British, gal·va·nise.

Origin of galvanize

1795–1805; < French galvaniser, named after Luigi Galvani; see -ize

Related formsgal·va·ni·za·tion, noungal·va·niz·er, nounnon·gal·va·nized, adjectivepre·gal·va·nize, verb (used with object), pre·gal·va·nized, pre·gal·va·niz·ing.re·gal·va·ni·za·tion, nounre·gal·va·nize, verb (used with object), re·gal·va·nized, re·gal·va·niz·ing.un·gal·va·nized, adjective

Synonyms for galvanize

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3. rouse, stir, electrify, fire, spur, animate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for galvanize

shock, energize, invigorate, stun, motivate, excite, jolt, startle, arouse, stir, frighten, provoke, spur, astonish, prime, thrill, pique, fire, move, electrify

Examples from the Web for galvanize

Contemporary Examples of galvanize

The book is a manifesto—a single-handed attempt to galvanize the world to take to the streets.
Naomi Klein’s ‘This Changes Everything’ Will Change Nothing
Michael Signer
November 17, 2014
Do you think the film will galvanize enough interest to re-open the search for Yaser?
The Dishonor of Honor Killings
Sara Stewart
October 20, 2014
The current firestorm should galvanize critics of education reform, but not in the way they think.
De Blasio Misread His Mandate, Now Some of His Own Supporters are Fighting Back Over Charter School Cuts
Conor P. Williams
March 11, 2014
But in this bitter race, the saga surely helped Schweikert galvanize his base, which will be critical to winning the primary.
Ben Quayle’s Election Fight Gets Ugly
Terry Greene Sterling
August 26, 2012
So I would not doubt that yesterday's decision will galvanize conservative voters.
Seven More Thoughts on the Decision
Michael Tomasky
June 29, 2012

Historical Examples of galvanize

Madame Rachel can only galvanize the corpse, not revivify it.
The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh
William Makepeace Thackeray
The touch of his hands and lips seemed to galvanize her into life.
The Bride of the Tomb and Queenie's Terrible Secret
Mrs. Alexander McVeigh Miller
Love is the only impulse which could galvanize him into life.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 16
Various
And, for Kings Port, navy yards do not galvanize dead trade.
Lady Baltimore
Owen Wister
His Polonaises, characterized by an energetic rhythm, galvanize and electrify the torpor of indifference.
Life of Chopin
Franz Liszt

British Dictionary definitions for galvanize

galvanize

galvanise

verb (tr)

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

noun

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

Derived Formsgalvanization or galvanisation, noungalvanizer or galvaniser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for galvanize

1802, from French galvaniser, from galvanisme (see galvanism). Figurative sense of "excite, stimulate (as if by electricity)" first recorded 1853. Meaning "to coat with metal by means of galvanic electricity" (especially to plate iron with tin, but now typically to plate it with zinc) is from 1839.

He'll swear that in her dancing she cuts all others out,
Though like a Gal that's galvanized, she throws her legs about.
[Thomas Hood, "Love has not Eyes," 1845]

Related: Galvanized; galvanizing.