petrify

verb

pet·​ri·​fy ˈpe-trə-ˌfī How to pronounce petrify (audio)
petrified; petrifying

transitive verb

1
: to convert (organic matter) into stone or a substance of stony hardness by the infiltration of water and the deposition of dissolved mineral matter
2
: to make rigid or inert like stone:
a
: to make lifeless or inactive : deaden
slogans are apt to petrify a man's thinkingSaturday Rev.
b
: to confound with fear, amazement, or awe
a novel about an airline pilot that will petrify youMartin Levin

intransitive verb

: to become stone or of stony hardness or rigidity

Examples of petrify in a Sentence

the processes that petrify wood The dead tree petrified into stone.
Recent Examples on the Web The West and Israel should be mindful over the apparent change in tempo of Iran’s uranium enrichment and be petrified of losing the wider war of non proliferation in a region unable to step back from the brink. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 28 Sep. 2024 The government - the governor is petrified in Colorado. CBS News, 22 Sep. 2024 When North Korea tested a ballistic missile in 2009, the public was petrified at first but quickly lost interest. Takashi Yokota, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2012 People were petrified of being rendered obsolete and losing their jobs. Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for petrify 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petrify.' 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

Middle English petrifien (as past participle petrified), borrowed from Medieval Latin petrificāre, from Latin petra "rock, boulder, crag" (borrowed from Greek pétra) + -ificāre -ify — more at petro-

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of petrify was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near petrify

Cite this Entry

“Petrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petrify. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

petrify

verb
pet·​ri·​fy ˈpe-trə-ˌfī How to pronounce petrify (audio)
petrified; petrifying
1
: to convert into stone or a stony substance by the penetration of water and the depositing of minerals which were dissolved in the water
petrified wood
2
: to make lifeless or inactive : deaden
3
: to paralyze with fear, amazement, or awe : stun

Medical Definition

petrify

verb
pet·​ri·​fy ˈpe-trə-ˌfī How to pronounce petrify (audio)
petrified; petrifying

transitive verb

: to convert (organic matter) into stone or a stony substance

intransitive verb

: to become stone or like stone

More from Merriam-Webster on petrify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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