synthesize

American  

[sin-thuh-sahyz] / ˈsɪn θəˌsaɪz /

especially British, synthesise

verb (used with object)

synthesized, synthesizing

1. to form (a material or abstract entity) by combining parts or elements (opposed to analyze).

   to synthesize a statement.

2. Chemistry. to combine (constituent elements) into a single or unified entity.

3. to treat synthetically.

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verb (used without object)

synthesized, synthesizing

1. to make or form a synthesis.

synthesize British  

/ ˈsɪnθɪˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to combine or cause to combine into a whole

2. (tr) to produce by synthesis

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Other Word Forms

• nonsynthesized
  adjective
• resynthesize
  verb (used with object)
• synthesization
  noun
• unsynthesized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of synthesize

First recorded in 1820–30; synthes(is) + -ize

Explanation

When you synthesize, you combine two or more things to create something more complex. It's becoming more common for doctors these days to synthesize Eastern and Western approaches to medicine. While synthesize was first used in 1830, scientists and inventors were doing what it means long before that, mixing stuff together to create new materials and products. Medical researchers chemically synthesize chemicals every day in the lab, hoping to create the next wonder drug. When you write a research paper on a given topic, you must find and synthesize information related to that topic, so you can understand what it means and structure an argument in support of your thesis.

Example Sentences

The agents are meant to help those companies’ employees build presentations, synthesize webs of data sets and filings, build financial models, and complete other tasks, Anthropic said on Tuesday.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Birken said you can synthesize the information you need down to a few lines that articulate your steps for making up the difference between what you have and what you spend.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

They synthesize and parrot back the script’s outrageous plot points, serving as a Greek chorus, though being reasonable wouldn’t push Anna toward her destiny.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

It would take years and additional discoveries made by others to synthesize the hormone into an effective drug and to determine doses that didn’t make patients vomit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

This capacity, Beadle understood, was due to the presence of enzymes within the cell—proteins that acted as master builders and could synthesize complex biological macromolecules out of basic precursor chemicals.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• incorporate