pressurize
Americanverb (used with object)
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pressurizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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pressurized,
past participle, past
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pressurizing
present participle
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to raise the internal atmospheric pressure of to the required or desired level.
to pressurize an astronaut's spacesuit before a walk in space.
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to maintain normal air pressure in (the cockpit or cabin of an airplane) at high altitudes.
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to apply pressure to (a gas or liquid); supercharge.
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to pressure-cook.
verb
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to increase the pressure in (an enclosure, such as an aircraft cabin) in order to maintain approximately atmospheric pressure when the external pressure is low
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to increase pressure on (a fluid)
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to make insistent demands of (someone); coerce
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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pressurizesimple
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pressurizessimple
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have pressurizedperfect
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has pressurizedperfect
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am pressurizingprogressive
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are pressurizingprogressive
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is pressurizingprogressive
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have been pressurizingperfect progressive
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has been pressurizingperfect progressive
Past
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pressurizedsimple
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had pressurizedperfect
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was pressurizingprogressive
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were pressurizingprogressive
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had been pressurizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pressurize
Explanation
To pressurize a gas is to artificially raise the amount of force with which its molecules are pressing against each other. Before doctors give patients gasses like nitrous oxide or oxygen, they must first be pressurized inside a canister. In order to use them safely, their pressure is adjusted to a precise level. A similar procedure is done in the cabin of an airplane; for the air to be safe at high altitudes, engineers had to figure out how to pressurize it. The plane's engines heat and compress the air, raising its pressure — which means more oxygen for passengers to breathe.
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:
That momentum is transferred to the other turbine and used to pressurize the air-intake charge, spinning at speeds above 150,000 rpm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
While crews are digging a deep pit to reach and repair the broken valve, others are working to fill and pressurize a large water tank that serves the area.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025
Methanol is also a good carrier of hydrogen, which is hard to pressurize and dangerous to transport.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 26, 2024
In an in-person meeting with Gandhi, Bass writes, Kissinger promised that "America would, under no circumstances, allow any outside power to pressurize or threaten India."
From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2023
There was no way for me to get out without detaching the bedroom, and no way to attach and pressurize the bedroom without being inside the rover.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
The shift suddenly pressurizes the magma chamber, driving out the gas into the sky in an explosive burst.
From Science Magazine ● May 27, 2024
Still, the main components generally consist of the following: a steam generator boils water to create steam, a group head collects and pressurizes said steam, and a portafilter contains the basket that holds the grounds.
From Salon ● May 10, 2023
The machine first filters Martian air for contaminants and then pressurizes it.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 1, 2022
When a network of rigid, vascular tissue, called xylem pressurizes, sap starts to flow.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2022
Blue Origin performed developmental ground tests of its pressurized docking system earlier this year.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
This is a pressurized Cup for Mbappé, a 2018 champion and 2022 finalist who entered under a cloud of debate about his recent play.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
Healthcare Agency said it did not dispute statements that vapors were released from the pressurized tank on May 21.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
The crisis at GKN Aerospace began May 21, when the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the crippled pressurized tank, which was heating up, according to a report issued by state officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
In five minutes it leaked so much it pressurized the whole airlock to 1.2 atmospheres.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
In a statement cited by Russian state media, Russia's Roscosmos space agency said that while pressurizing the transfer chamber, known as PrK, a leak was recorded.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
He said after the piping is expected to be repaired on Thursday night, workers will begin pressurizing the system, a process that could 24 to 36 hours.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 19, 2023
By pressurizing the vessel with methane, Johnson forced methane into the droplet, which caused a methane clathrate structure to form.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 27, 2023
Lenders' first quarter presentations showed the excess capacity in the market was pressurizing margins, especially on secondary market sales, Cassidy said, adding that the industry would likely see a period of consolidation.
From Reuters ● Apr. 18, 2022
After pressurizing and sealing up leaks as I found them, I had a nice big balloon bulging out of the trailer.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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.
