energize

verb

en·​er·​gize ˈe-nər-ˌjīz How to pronounce energize (audio)
energized; energizing
Synonyms of energizenext

transitive verb

1
: to make energetic, vigorous, or active
energized by the coach's pep talk
2
: to impart energy to
sunlight energizes the chemical reactions
3
: to apply voltage to

intransitive verb

: to put forth energy : act
energization
ˌe-nər-ˌjī-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce energize (audio)
noun
energizer noun

Synonyms of energize

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of energize in a Sentence

His rousing speech energized the crowd. You'll feel more energized after a bit of exercise.
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.
The home run and the bat flip energized Cleveland's dugout and the 30,101 fans in attendance at Progressive Field. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026 Younger voters were more easily energized by the progressives. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 There, the psychological story energized a bedroom where the protagonist could barely move. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 In neighboring Uruguay, where Leo’s visit is expected to energize the Catholic minority in a country that officially celebrates Christmas as Family Day, Cardinal Daniel Sturla, the archbishop of Montevideo, tempered hopes for the historic visit. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for energize

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1865, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of energize was circa 1865

Phrases Containing energize

Rhymes for energize

See All Rhymes for energize

Browse Nearby Words

energist
energize
energumen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Energize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/energize. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

energize

verb
en·​er·​gize ˈen-ər-ˌjīz How to pronounce energize (audio)
energized; energizing
1
: to put forth energy : act
2
a
: to give energy to
sunlight energizes the chemical reactions
b
: to make energetic
3
: to apply voltage to
energizer noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All