synthesize

verb

syn·​the·​size ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz 

synthesized; synthesizing

transitive verb

1

: to combine or produce by synthesis

2

: to make a synthesis of

3

: to produce (something, such as music) by an electronic synthesizer

intransitive verb

: to make a synthesis

Did you know?

Synthesize is a very common word in chemistry, since chemists are constantly synthesizing new compounds—that is, synthetic compounds—including drugs and industrial chemicals. It's also often used when talking about writing; nonfiction writers must often synthesize large amounts of material from many sources to produce a book—which represents a synthesis of the important materials. An electronic synthesizercreates new sounds (which may imitate the sounds of acoustic instruments) by generating different basic tones and then manipulating and merging them together with others.

Examples of synthesize in a Sentence

She synthesized the treatment from traditional and modern philosophies of medicine.

He synthesized old and new ideas to form his theory.

Amino acid is synthesized in the body.

Recent Examples on the Web

On Thursday, a group of notable scientists, including Nobel Prize winners and global health experts, issued a warning against researchers synthesizing a type of artificial cell that could rampage through life on Earth with practically no barriers to stop it. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024

Founders Briton Hadden and Henry Luce envisioned a magazine that would synthesize complex events into digestible narratives, ensuring accessibility for busy readers. —Mark Howard, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024

In fact, vitamin D is the only vitamin our bodies can synthesize in sufficient quantities just from exposure to energy from our planet’s vital star. —Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024

Unlike its predecessors, this technology offers unprecedented capabilities in language processing and content generation, enabling organizations to synthesize complex information, generate nuanced insights, and accelerate decision-making with remarkable precision and depth. —Teppo Felin, Harvard Business Review, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

synthesize

verb

syn·​the·​size ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz 

synthesized; synthesizing

: to combine or produce by synthesis

Medical Definition

synthesize

transitive verb

syn·​the·​size

variants also British synthesise

-ˌsīz 

synthesized also British synthesised; synthesizing also British synthesising

: to combine or produce by synthesis

synthesize penicillin