ionize

verb

ion·ize ˈī-ə-ˌnīz

ionized; ionizing

transitive verb

: to convert wholly or partly into ions

intransitive verb

: to become ionized

ionizable

ˈī-ə-ˌnī-zə-bəl

adjective

ionizer

ˈī-ə-ˌnī-zər

noun

Examples of ionize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Later, as the disk thins and starlight can pass through it more easily, these winds and jets weaken, and magnetic processes are dominated by high-energy radiation from the infant star ionizing gas and blowing it into space. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026 The Federal Aviation Administration has acknowledged that aircrews are exposed to ionizing radiation, but the government does not set federal dose limits or require monitoring, the authors noted. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 This type of ionizing radiation, in sufficient doses, can damage DNA and give rise to cancer. — Vishal R. Patel, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 Google also performed experiments with its V6e Trillium TPU compute tray and found that, over time, ionizing radiation can cause device failures. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ionize

Word History

Etymology

ion + -ize, after German ionisiren (now ionisieren) or French ioniser

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of ionize was in 1898

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ionize. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ionize

verb

ion·ize ˈī-ə-ˌnīz

ionized; ionizing

: to convert wholly or partly into ions

: to become ionized

ionizable

-ˌnī-zə-bəl

adjective

ionization

ˌī-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən

noun

ionizer

ˈī-ə-ˌnī-zər

noun

Medical Definition

ionize

verb

ion·ize

variants or chiefly British ionise

ˈī-ə-ˌnīz

ionized or chiefly British ionised; ionizing or chiefly British ionising

transitive verb

: to convert wholly or partly into ions

intransitive verb

: to become ionized

ionizable adjective

or chiefly British ionisable

-ˌnī-zə-bəl

ionization noun

or chiefly British ionisation

ˌī-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən

ionize

verb

Examples of ionize in a Sentence

Word History

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Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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ionize

verb

Examples of ionize in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for ionize

Browse Nearby Words

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