metabolize

verb

me·​tab·​o·​lize mə-ˈta-bə-ˌlīz How to pronounce metabolize (audio)
metabolized; metabolizing

transitive verb

: to subject to metabolism

intransitive verb

: to perform metabolism
metabolizable adjective

Examples of metabolize in a Sentence

Food is metabolized by the body.
Recent Examples on the Web But Gosselin’s in particular, which leave only the dolls’ heads and feet free, look like attempts to metabolize the violence and misogyny of popular culture, or simply to render pointy plastic doodads tender and warm. Will Heinrich, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Research on both vitamins suggests that taking vitamin D and vitamin K together can optimize your body’s ability to metabolize calcium. Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Another issue is ammonia, a byproduct of metabolizing protein that is excreted in urine. Amy Isler, Rn, Msn, Csn, Verywell Health, 1 Feb. 2024 Plus, eating later in the evening, when the melatonin (the sleep hormone) is at its peak, could prevent the body from metabolizing food efficiently, Srour said. Sarah Garone, Health, 16 Jan. 2024 And learning from your past—metabolizing your life lessons—is the raw material for your future wisdom. TIME, 27 Dec. 2023 His plays toy with form — the morality play, the workplace comedy, the domestic drama — to explore the United States’ posture in relation to the past and its influence on how Americans metabolize the present. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2023 The joy is that being able to metabolize the reality of the difficulty of the world. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024 Yes, flushing is from the reduced functioning of acetaldehyde hydrogenase, which metabolizes it to less dangerous compounds. Angus Chen, STAT, 27 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

metabol(ic) or metabol(ism) + -ize

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of metabolize was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near metabolize

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

metabolize

verb
me·​tab·​o·​lize mə-ˈtab-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce metabolize (audio)
metabolized; metabolizing
: to break down by metabolism
food is metabolized by the body

Medical Definition

metabolize

verb
me·​tab·​o·​lize
variants also British metabolise
metabolized also British metabolised; metabolizing also British metabolising

transitive verb

: to subject to metabolism

intransitive verb

: to perform metabolism
metabolizer noun
also British metaboliser

More from Merriam-Webster on metabolize

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