glycogen

noun

gly·​co·​gen ˈglī-kə-jən How to pronounce glycogen (audio)
: a white amorphous tasteless polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x that is the principal form in which glucose is stored in animal tissues and especially muscle and liver tissue

Examples of glycogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The body's glycogen stores are a form of glucose stored in one's muscles and liver tissue that the body uses after more readily available glucose has been depleted during exercise. USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024 When glycogen is gone, attention is turned to breaking down your muscles to supply glucose for your brain. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 4 Jan. 2024 The body can then tap into glycogen stores and break down larger carbohydrate molecules into usable glucose that muscles and other tissues of the body need energy during exercise. Amber Sayer, Health, 26 Oct. 2023 Normally, when the body has finished digesting and is entering a fasting state, a molecule known as glucagon gets released, this then stimulates the liver to take the glycogen and turn it into usable glucose through a process known as gluconeogenesis. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023 Unfortunately, this approach can backfire, leading athletes to race depleted and without enough glycogen to power a PR. Kylee Van Horn and Allison Knott, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2022 As predicted, before exercise, the cavefish had more glycogen in their muscles than the surface fish did, but after the swim test, their glycogen level plummeted. Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2023 Muscle damage also depletes the ability to transport blood glucose, in turn depleting the ability to replenish glycogen stores. Malissa Rodenburg, Outside Online, 29 Sep. 2022 Sugar is an important nutrient that helps with energy production and glycogen storage. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glycogen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glycogen was circa 1864

Dictionary Entries Near glycogen

Cite this Entry

“Glycogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glycogen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glycogen

noun
gly·​co·​gen ˈglī-kə-jən How to pronounce glycogen (audio)
: a white tasteless substance that is the chief form in which glucose is stored in animals

Medical Definition

glycogen

noun
gly·​co·​gen ˈglī-kə-jən How to pronounce glycogen (audio)
: a white amorphous tasteless polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x that constitutes the principal form in which glucose is stored in animal tissues, occurs especially in the liver and in muscle and also in fungi and yeasts, and resembles starch in molecular structure and in the formation of only glucose on complete hydrolysis

called also animal starch

More from Merriam-Webster on glycogen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!