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

That’s because subsurface samples will be protected from ionizing radiation and from the environment on the surface of the planet, which is very hostile, says Vago. —Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024

Brain and central nervous system cancers have been under particular scrutiny because handheld phones are used close to the head and because ionizing radiation — a higher energy form of radiation than what cell phones emit — has been found to cause some brain cancers. —Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 6 Sep. 2024

The test’s deadly ionizing radiation also contaminated nearby lands, water and communities for generations to follow. —Claudia Grisales, NPR, 7 June 2024

Still swirling in a horizontal magnetic field, the muons would ionize atoms in the material, dissipating energy and quelling their buzzing about. —Byadrian Cho, science.org, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

ionize

verb

ion·​ize ˈī-ə-ˌnīz 

ionized; ionizing

1

: to convert wholly or partly into ions

2

: 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