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
Tall fescue is normally fertilized two or three times each year.
—
Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025
Do not fertilize on very hot days and be sure to water your plants before and after fertilizing.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Along that same line, wait to fertilize to your warm-season grasses (bermuda, St. Augustine or zoysia).
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
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Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025
Do not fertilize on very hot days and be sure to water your plants before and after fertilizing.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Along that same line, wait to fertilize to your warm-season grasses (bermuda, St. Augustine or zoysia).
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fertilize
Cite this Entry
“Fertilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertilize. Accessed 25 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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