vaporize

verb

va·​por·​ize ˈvā-pə-ˌrīz 

vaporized; vaporizing

transitive verb

1

: to convert (as by the application of heat or by spraying) into vapor

2

: to cause to become dissipated

3

: to destroy by or as if by converting into vapor

a tank vaporized by a shell

intransitive verb

1

: to become vaporized

2

: vapor sense 2

vaporizable

ˈvā-pə-ˌrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

vaporization

ˌvā-pər-ə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• annihilate
• cream
• decimate
• demolish
• desolate
• destroy
• devastate
• do in
• extinguish
• nuke
• pull down
• pulverize
• raze
• rub out
• ruin
• shatter
• smash
• tear down
• total
• waste
• wrack
• wreck

Examples of vaporize in a Sentence

Heat is used to vaporize the liquid.

Pressure causes the chemical to vaporize.

Recent Examples on the Web

The silica likely vaporized from the heat of the asteroid then formed into solid droplets and fell back to Earth. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024

While some water likely existed in the primordial gas and dust that formed Earth about 4.6 billion years ago, much of it would have vaporized due to the planet's proximity to the sun. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

This is ideal for using with lower temperatures and pulling the terpenes that need low temperatures out first before increasing the temperature to vaporize the rest. —Emily Earlenbaugh, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

In essence, that means minimum-wage workers in those states have seen much of their purchasing power vaporized by inflation over the past 15 years. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

vapor entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

vaporize

verb

va·​por·​ize ˈvā-pə-ˌrīz 

vaporized; vaporizing

: to turn from a liquid or solid into vapor

vaporization

ˌvā-pə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

vaporize

verb

va·​por·​ize

variants also British vaporise

ˈvā-pə-ˌrīz 

vaporized also British vaporised; vaporizing also British vaporising

transitive verb

: to convert from a liquid or solid into a vapor

vaporized plaque in an artery with laser treatment

intransitive verb

: to become vaporized

vaporizable adjective

also British vaporisable

-ˌrī-zə-bəl