1
Core action
Cause or accelerate a reaction, process, or significant change.
Example
The enzyme catalyzes the reaction without being consumed.
catalyze
/ˈkætəlaɪz/ · KAT-uh-lyzeverb
Cause or accelerate a reaction, process, or significant change.
Use catalyze to express this relationship precisely: cause or accelerate a reaction, process, or significant change.
What catalyze Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
The court decision catalyzed a broader reform movement.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
The discovery helped catalyze a rapid shift in public debate.
Use catalyze Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The enzyme catalyzes the reaction without being consumed.
The court decision catalyzed a broader reform movement.
The discovery helped catalyze a rapid shift in public debate.
Precision Matters
Catalyze overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
catalyze
vs.Means cause or accelerate a reaction, process, or significant change.
engender
Means cause a feeling, condition, or situation to develop.
catalyze
vs.Means cause or accelerate a reaction, process, or significant change.
foster
Means to encourage or promote the development of something.
catalyze
vs.Means cause or accelerate a reaction, process, or significant change.
precipitate
Means to cause something to happen suddenly or sooner than expected.
catalyze
vs.Means cause or accelerate a reaction, process, or significant change.
lead to
Means cause, produce, or result in an outcome or later development.
Test catalyze in Context
The process may cause or speed up a major change in adoption.
1
By dramatically lowering production costs, the new process could ___ widespread adoption of the material.
Precision Check
Every option below is a real distinction for one of catalyze’s near-synonyms. Choose the one that belongs to engender.
2
Which distinction belongs to “engender”?