pressurize
Americanverb (used with object)
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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
Methanol is also a good carrier of hydrogen, which is hard to pressurize and dangerous to transport.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 26, 2024
Airlines pressurize their interiors as they climb because there’s not enough oxygen to support life in the thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 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
Once Beck and I got to his quarters, we waited for the ship to re- pressurize.
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
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
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 Orange County, the near-catastrophe was sparked by thousands of gallons of a highly toxic chemical in a failing pressurized chemical tank that was heating up at a Garden Grove aerospace firm, GKN Aerospace.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
Orange County fire official says a potential crack found on a pressurized chemical tank in Garden Grove might alleviated internal pressure, reducing risk of a catastrophic explosion.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Additionally, the pressurized space helmets would cause headsets to jerk forward and cover their eyes during an actual splashdown, so they had to practice for this, as well.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
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
This is a high-strength container used to store helium gas, which is critical for pressurizing the rocket’s propellant tanks and ensuring proper fuel flow to its engines.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2025
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
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.
