ionize

American  

[ahy-uh-nahyz] / ˈaɪ əˌnaɪz /

especially British, ionise

verb (used with object)

ionized, ionizing

1. to separate or change into ions.

2. to produce ions in.

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verb (used without object)

ionized, ionizing

1. to become changed into the form of ions, as by dissolving.

ionize British  

/ ˈaɪəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to change or become changed into ions

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ionize Scientific  

/ ī′ə-nīz′ /

1. To give an atom or group of atoms a net electric charge by adding or removing one or more electrons.

2. To form ions in a substance. Lightning ionizes air, for example.

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Other Word Forms

• ionizable adjective
• ionization noun
• ionizer noun
• nonionized adjective
• nonionizing adjective
• self-ionization noun
• unionized adjective
• ununionized adjective

Etymology

Origin of ionize

First recorded in 1895–1900; ion + -ize

Example Sentences

In the study, Parziale's team introduced krypton gas into a wind tunnel and used lasers to ionize it.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

And unlike auroras, neither Steve nor the picket fence emit blue light, which is generated when the most energetic particles hit and ionize nitrogen.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2023

Gamma rays ionize atoms in this way, so it seems very likely that this blast physically affected out planet’s atmosphere, though only mildly and briefly.

From Scientific American • Oct. 21, 2022

As a charged particle streaks through the argon, it will ionize some of the atoms, freeing their electrons.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 28, 2022

Now this accumulation of negative electricity will produce a large electric force on the anode side; this will drive corpuscles forward with great velocity and ionize the gas.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 8 "Conduction, Electric" by Various