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

• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• shatter
• devastate
• wreck
• smash

Examples of vaporize in a Sentence

Heat is used to vaporize the liquid.

Pressure causes the chemical to vaporize.

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, McAllen, Texas could see close to 100,000 total annual in and out Las Vegas passengers vaporize if the current nonstop flights are ended. —Michael Boyd, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

The main aim of this mission, set to launch in 2026, is to find roughly Earth-size planets in the habitable zones of their stars, the region where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface without vaporizing or freezing. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2025

When heated, these siloxanes vaporize and condense into ultrafine particles, which are then floating around in the immediate air and are readily inhaled. —New Atlas, 23 Aug. 2025

The idea being that when an atomic bomb lands in your city, you are vaporized instantly. —Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

vapor entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for vaporize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

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