fertilize
verb
fer·til·ize
ˈfər-tə-ˌlīz 
fertilized; fertilizing
: to make fertile: such as
a
: to apply a fertilizer to
fertilize land
b
: to cause the fertilization of
Examples of fertilize in a Sentence
A single sperm fertilizes an egg.
Bees fertilize plants as they collect nectar from flowers.
He fertilizes the lawn every year.
The soil is so rich there is no need to fertilize.
Recent Examples on the Web
By some estimates, preimplantation testing is used in close to half of IVF cycles in the U.S.
PGT-A is a screening test performed after a patient’s eggs have been retrieved and fertilized to create embryos, but before any of those embryos have been transferred to her uterus.
—
Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Learn more about nutrient requirements and the best time to fertilize roses.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
Since fir bark contains virtually no nutrients, plants have to be fertilized on a regular basis.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Restoring the North Yuba River Spring-run Chinook salmon returned to the cool waters of the North Yuba River first as eggs, fertilized at Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville and embedded in October in the river’s gravel, similar to how adult salmon spawn, according to a news release.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
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Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Learn more about nutrient requirements and the best time to fertilize roses.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
Since fir bark contains virtually no nutrients, plants have to be fertilized on a regular basis.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Restoring the North Yuba River Spring-run Chinook salmon returned to the cool waters of the North Yuba River first as eggs, fertilized at Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville and embedded in October in the river’s gravel, similar to how adult salmon spawn, according to a news release.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
Cite this Entry
“Fertilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertilize. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fertilize
verb
fer·til·ize
ˈfərt-ᵊl-ˌīz
fertilized; fertilizing
: to make fertile: as
a
: to cause the fertilization of
also
: to unite with in the process of fertilization
a sperm fertilizes an egg
b
: to apply a fertilizer to
fertilize land
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